A Katherine Brunt-inspired England has bounced back strongly from losing the Ashes, smashing the Australians by 40 runs at Manuka Oval in the second T20I of the summer.
England came into the game already having lost the Ashes, but they still had the chance to tie the series at eight points apiece, and to win the T20 series embedded in it.
Winning the toss and deciding to bat on a hard wicket, Tammy Beaumont and Danielle Wyatt got off to a good start, Wyatt slamming a quickfire 19 before she was caught at cover by Haynes off the bowling of Megan Shutt, who has had an outstanding summer.
Beaumont soon followed, LBW to Jonassen for nine, but it allowed Natalie Sciver (40) and Sarah Taylor (30) to come together for a vital 45 run stand that set the foundations for England’s innings.
Katherine Brunt managed to hit some lusty blows at the end, as wickets fell around her, to end up on 32 not out, blasting two monster sixes in her knock.
It allowed England to end their innings at 6/152, which would have been more if not for a fantastic final over from Megan Schutt, who ended up taking 2/16 off her four overs.
Australia came out strongly, with Beth Mooney (17) and Alyssa Healy (24) hitting some good shots to see Australia race to 45 in the fifth over.
However, their good start would soon be wasted, with the Australians losing 5/20, starting with the run out of Mooney.
Captain Rachael Haynes (14) came together with Delissa Kimmince (17) for a 25 run stand to give the Australians some hope, but when Haynes was caught at cover off the bowling of Ecclestone (2/24), the game was over.
Jenny Gunn ended the pick of the bowlers, grabbing 4/13 off only three overs, whilst Katherine Brunt bowled superbly to take 2/10 off her four overs, ensuring that she would take home the player of the match award.
The third and final T20I will be played on Tuesday, again at Manuka Oval, with England having the chance to tie up the Ashes series, and win the T20 series itself.
Final score
England 6/152 defeat Australia 10/112 by 40 runs
The Ashes are over, but there still is so much to play for as Australia host England in the second T20I of the Women’s Ashes at Manuka Oval, Canberra on Sunday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:35pm (AEDT).
Thanks to a Beth Mooney masterclass, Australia wrapped up the Ashes in convincing fashion on Friday night, storming home 6 wicket victors, winning the series 8-4.
It was a masterful display from Mooney, hitting a blistering 86 not out off just 56 balls, chasing down the meager total of 132 with plenty of balls to spare.
It means the Ashes have been retained by the Australians, and that the urn is safely in the grasp of Rachael Haynes. However, don’t expect the series to be finished, or that there is not much to play for.
As we travel to Canberra, for the first international game this series in the nation’s capital, Australia will be eyeing off a T20 cleansweep, to properly reflect their dominant series, and to stamp their authority on the world of cricket by demolishing the reigning world champions.
For England, they have these two chances at redemption, and to tie the series at eight points apiece. They have struggled this series, and would be fearful of the fact that they could head home with only one win under their belt for the Australian summer.
Australia: Beth Mooney
The obvious choice, the left-handed opener looked a class above the rest on Friday, batting with precision, power and placement. She was a joy to watch, playing excellent cricket shots, mixed with pure, brute force. If Mooney can fire for the Aussies, you’d expect them to register a big total, or to chase one down with the ease that they had on Friday night.
England: Danielle Wyatt
The only English player that seemed to fire a shot on Friday, Wyatt came to the crease with the English at 4/16, in all sorts. Batting with power and timing, Wyatt put on a 60 run stand with Natalie Sciver, and took to the Australian bowlers. If she can do so again on Sunday afternoon, England could well be on their way to a second victory this summer.
The Australians have tasted Ashes success, and now will want to keep their foot on English throats. They have the chance to play with freedom, and the pressure of the series lifted.
England, on the other hand, may be playing for spots, and we saw the other night that tensions may be wearing thin in the English camp.
Australia will look to do exactly what they did the other night, and it should play out exactly how it did on Friday.
Australia by 5 wickets
Can Australia continue their winning ways? Or will England salvage some pride, and extract something out of what has otherwise been a disappointing series? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:35pm (AEDT).
Follow Dylan on Twitter @dylcarmody77
Maggie
Guest
Well that was a bit disappointing by the Aussie women. Too relaxed after retaining the Ashes?
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Match Report: A Katherine Brunt-inspired England has bounced back strongly from losing the Ashes, smashing the Australians by 40 runs at Manuka Oval in the second T20I of the summer. England came into the game already having lost the Ashes, but they still had the chance to tie the series at 8 points apiece, and to win the T20 series embedded in it. Winning the toss and deciding to bat on a hard wicket, Tammy Beaumont and Danielle Wyatt got off to a good start, Wyatt slamming a quickfire 19 before she was caught at cover by Haynes off the bowling of Megan Shutt, who has had an outstanding summer. Beaumont soon followed, LBW to Jonassen for 9, but it allowed Natalie Sciver (40) and Sarah Taylor (30) to come together for a vital 45 run stand that set the foundations for England’s innings. Katherine Brunt managed to hit some lusty blows at the end, as wickets fell around her, to end up on 32 not out, blasting two monster sixes in her knock. It allowed England to end their innings at 6/152, which would have been more if not for a fantastic final over from Megan Schutt, who ended up taking 2/16 off her four overs. Australia came out strongly, with Beth Mooney (17) and Alyssa Healy (24) hitting some good shots to see Australia race to 45 in the fifth over. However, their good start would soon be wasted, with the Australians losing 5/20, starting with the run out of Mooney. Captain Rachael Haynes (14) came together with Delissa Kimmince (17) for a 25 run stand to give the Australians some hope, but when Haynes was caught at cover off the bowling of Ecclestone (2/24), the game was over. Jenny Gunn ended the pick of the bowlers, grabbing 4/13 off only three overs, whilst Katherine Brunt bowled superbly to take 2/10 off her four overs, ensuring that she would take home the player of the match award. The third and final T20I will be played on Tuesday, again at Manuka Oval, with England having the chance to tie up the Ashes series, and win the T20 series itself.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
END OF THE MATCH: England 6/152 defeat Australia 10/112 by 40 runs England have bounced back well from an Ashes defeat to win the second T20I by 40 runs at Manuka Oval! They came out strongly with the bat, before Nat Sciver's 40 and Sarah Taylor's 30 gave the tourists a base. Katherine Brunt then came out to hit some bombs and get herself 32 not out, setting 152 to win. Australia started well, but they lost 4 wickets in the space of three or so overs, the catalyst being Beth Mooney's run out. Katherine Brunt herself took 2/10 off her four, whilst Jenny Gunn had 4/13 off just three overs to end the match. It means the T20 series is now tied at one apiece, and England have a chance to draw the Ashes at 8 all, giving them something to go home happy with. Thanks for joining me today, been a blast! Match report will be up soon!
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
18TH OVER Megan Schutt to the crease, at the non strikers end. She sweeps this down to deep mid on, and gets one. Schutt cuts, but its straight to point. She then works this to the legside for one. An LBW shout, but heading down leg. OUT Strano tries to reverse sweep, and gets bowled, Gunn with her fourth, and the English have won the second T20I !
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
18TH OVER OUT Good catch by Sciver in the deep, as Jonassen slog sweeps into deep mid wicket, but she dives forward slightly and takes a good catch to give Gunn her second wicket.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
17TH OVER Strano tries to reverse sweep Ecclestone, but get none of it and it is a dot. Strano nearly gets run out, but dives back to her crease and makes her ground. Strano goes for the sweep again and misses once more. Again, the swat to the legside, and only get one for it. Great fielding by Beaumont stops the boundary as she dives to flick this back, brilliant fielding by the English. Play and a miss by Strano to end the over. Australia 8/110 (17) Strano 2 Jonassen 11
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
16TH OVER Molly Strano to the crease, and clips one off her pads for a single. A wide ball to Jonassen, and she bunts the next back at Gunn. Another slower ball, and another play and a miss to end the over. Australia 7/106 (16) Strano 1 Jonassen 8
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
16TH OVER FOUR Jonassen takes Gunn over mid off and gets herself four. She then slams one at cover, and gets the single. OUT Aley plays all around her pad, and gets done LBW. Good ball from Gunn, and Aley is on her way, England almost home.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
15TH OVER Brunt returns, as Jonassen defends to the offside, and then drives her down the ground for one. An inside edge gets Aley her first run in international cricket, only one though. Slower ball sees Jonassen play and miss, a wide ball comes next, just a bit too far outside off. Jonassen slams this back at Brunt, she can't stop the one though. Two leg byes to finish off Brunt's spell, she has bowled outstandingly well, and has given England a big shot at winning this match. Australia 7/99 (15) Aley 1 Jonassen 3
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
14TH OVER Jess Jonassen to the crease,and drills one down the ground for one. Kimmince reverse pulls it, and the a fumble by Wilson sees Kimmince come back for two. She goes across her stumps her, but Ecclestone puts it fuller, and Kimmince bunts it back. OUT Gone, England are almost home ! Kimmince tries to go big, but misses everything as Ecclestone hits her off stump! Australia 7/93 (14) Aley 0 Jonassen 1
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
14TH OVER Ecclestone returns, and Kimmince chips her down the ground for one. OUT Haynes is gone. She had to keep going, but couldn't clear the fielder at cover, and Sciver makes no error there, easy catch as Ecclestone has her first.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
13TH OVER Nat Sciver into the attack, and her first ball is a wide down leg, pretty unlucky I reckon,that isn't a wide. Haynes slams her down to long on for one, and Kimmince gets two as she finds the gap. SIX Kimmince picks up a full toss and smokes this over the rope for a monster six, great shot and exactly what the Aussies need. Slower ball down leg is fielded well down leg, Kimmince unlucky to not beat the fielder. Kimmince with the slog sweep, top edges it, and nearly gets four, but some great fielding from Shrubsole saves the boundary. Kimmince clips Sciver out to the sweeper for one to end the over. Australia 5/89 (13) Kimmince 14 Haynes 14
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
12TH OVER Kimmince whips Hazell out to deep mid wicket for one, Haynes lap sweeps for two. FOUR She defends the next one, before advancing down and slamming Hazell over mid off to clear the fielder and finds the fence. She defends the penultimate delivery of the over, before pulling Hazell deep for one. Australia 5/76 (12) Kimmince 3 Haynes 12
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
11TH OVER Kimmince on strike, her first time batting this summer. Defends the first, drops and runs near third man for the second. Haynes does the same, before Kimmince whips one off her pads for one. Australia 5/68 (11) Kimmince 2 Haynes 6
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
10TH OVER In the space of three overs, Australia have lost four wickets. Hazell back on, to captain Haynes who has watched the chaos unfold from the non-strikers. She advances and bunts this to mid off. FOUR Lovely shot from Haynes, reverse paddle as she flicks a full toss past short third man, it races away for four. Haynes drops and runs, and she does it well, good running. SIX Big shot from Gardner, big shot from her as she smokes this over Hazell's head for a maximum. Big shout from Hazell as she wraps Gardner on the pads, but it is sliding down leg. OUT Gone. Gardner goes for one too many, and Gardner plays a dumb shot with two fielders out there. She puts it down deep mid wicket's throat, and Australia go 5 down. Australia 5/65 (10) Kimmince 0 Haynes 5
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
9TH OVER Here is Ash Gardner, who plays and misses at a cut shot outside off, a replay of the shot a ball before, and a third for Ash Gardner, three play and misses. Slower ball is hit by Gardner, but straight to mid off. Top edge from a hook flies away for two. Australia 4/54 (9) Gardner 2 Haynes 0
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
9TH OVER OUT GONE!! PERRY IS GONE!! Australia are in all sorts of trouble, England on fire!!! Unlucky from Perry, so unlucky as she under edges a pull, it bounces back off her pad and rolls onto the stumps.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
8TH OVER Haynes in now, as Perry drives hard out to deep cover, Wyatt does well to prevent the boundary, only two conceded. Perry drives down to long on to end the over. Australia 3/52 (8) Perry 5 Haynes 0
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
8TH OVER Jenny Gunn into the attack, Perry plays one to mid on, before cutting hard to third man for one. OUT Healy is gone!! Another dumb shot from the keeper, she tries to drive Gunn, but gets none of it as she goes in the air, and puts it down the throat of deep mid on, silly shot and Australia in all sorts of trouble now.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
7TH OVER Perry punches this off the back foot immediately, and gets one. Healy punches one to cover, dot ball to end a good over. Australia 2/48 (7) Healy 24 Perry 1