Australia have been beaten for the third successive match by England, keeping the women’s Ashes on ice after a tense one-day international in Bristol.
It was Australia’s first defeat in the format in 16 matches and only their second in 42 games.
Inspired by skipper Heather Knight’s unbeaten 75 off 86 balls on Wednesday, England, backed by a jubilant full house at Bristol, chased down 264 to win with two wickets and 11 balls to spare.
The loss means Australia’s lead in the Ashes has disappeared, with the scores now locked at six points each, and two ODIs, worth two points each, still to come.
The next one is in Southampton on Sunday, and Australia will still retain the Ashes if they prevail, but the final match, at Taunton next Tuesday, could still prove decisive.
“The Ashes is on the line now proper, isn’t it? If that doesn’t galvanise the group, I don’t know what will,” said Australia captain Alyssa Healy.
“It’s up to us to turn it around. We’ve just got to be better, got to be sharper, to get us over the line.”
Anchored by a textbook innings from Beth Mooney, who made 81 not out in 99 balls, the tourists made 8-263 in their 50 overs on Wednesday.
It looked enough on a two-paced pitch with England having to achieve their record 50-over run-chase to win.
But uncharacteristically undisciplined bowling enabled England to get off to a flyer, reaching 1-100 in the 12th over. They then wobbled as Australia’s spin trio of Georgia Wareham, Ash Gardner and Jess Jonassen squeezed them in the middle overs.
At 8-235, Australia were favourites, but No.10 Kate Cross (19no off 20) played a remarkable innings ending with a ramp for four and a drive through the covers before Knight smashed the winning boundary.
Australia were left to rue a 10-over powerplay with 14 wides and three no balls – the free-hits from which went for eight runs – and a dropped catch, Healy missing Tammy Beaumont low to her right on 15 off Darcie Brown.
With Ellyse Perry taken for four boundaries in an over by Alice Capsey, Healy turned to spin in the 13th over.
The move gained instant reward as leggie Wareham (2-34) lured Beaumont (47 off 42) into holing out to mid-wicket. Capsey (40 off 34) followed soon after, caught at long on off offspinner Gardner (3-43).
The spinners slowed the rate, but England’s fast start meant the experienced duo of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Knight were largely happy to push singles until Sciver-Brunt (31) was caught reverse-sweeping Jonassen (1-37).
Healy used eight bowlers, and when Megan Schutt returned, Jonassen snared a good catch to get rid of Danni Wyatt (14). The momentum of the match changed but just as the Ashes seemed in Australia’s grasp, Knight and Cross delivered a final plot twist.
The win was a relief for England’s fielders who missed a string of chances, including Mooney on 19 and 39.
Perry, who made 41 off 51 balls, was dropped on six and 36 while Jonassen (30 off 39) and Tahlia McGrath (24 off 36) were missed on 13 and seven respectively.
Choosing to bat, Healy, watched by husband Mitchell Starc, perished fourth ball leg before on review having already hit two fours.
Litchfield and Perry added 61 in 69 balls before Litchfield was brilliantly caught one-handed by Sophie Ecclestone for 34 from 36 balls, including four fours in an over.
Gardner also made 21 as a series of Australians couldn’t kick on after a decent start, with wickets falling on a regular basis.
© AAP
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