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.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
The other point of difference I think we are missing - Nic Carey and her skiddy 110s. Stump to stump. Perfect on a deck like that. Also knows how to build an innings. And field the house down. Perry McGrath Sutherland all tall hit deck bowlers. England are gobbling it up.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
Agree. I think the pace attack has stagnated. Lots of big names. But we lack a standout weapon. Vlaeminck injured again so I want to see Flintoff let loose, she was as fast as Ismail last WBBL, bowls a natural innie, and smashes the cover off it. Alternatively. Cheatle. Point of difference. Was magnificent for Aust a. Lanning seemed to go off her - she could click under Healy!
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
Sorry z Sutherland was meant to be in. Too many clones. Give JJ a rest Shooter was better on this format but the English feasted on her in the T20. We need wickets in the power play. Hence resting Darce. Flintoff was sitting with the squad for the test. She’s in the Hundred. Burns is playing for Central Sparks. Yes to all your tactical observations
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
All of our spinners went at less than 5 an over. Our least expensive seamer went at 5.71 rpo. That's where the game was lost. While it is frustrating to see Australia lose three games in a row, it's good to see the women's game progress and see Australia be challenged. England and India are slowly seeing the rewards of investing in women's cricket. Time for the other nations to follow
Dutski
Roar Guru
Burns is the forgotten player in the women’s game. I’d have her in the team. There’s a real lack of composure from the bowlers when England start to accelerate. Trying to get too fancy with wide lines and whatnot. Wareham kept it tight and made them play good shots - and got the rewards.
JohnB
Roar Rookie
You're not totally wrong. Burns and Flintoff aren't in the squad though are they? Schutt has been ok and Sutherland also so dropping them seems a bit panicky. Brown though must be approaching thin ice if not already there. If she's only going to bowl 4 overs you'd be far better to pick Grace Harris (who'd do almost as much bowling as Brown did). Puzzling why they've pushed their best batter down from opening. Surely you arrange the batting order around what is best for the team, which generally involves putting the best players in their best spots, with others adapting around that. Equally odd that on that pitch with the way the medium pacers had been going you wouldn't have made sure all your spinners either bowled all their overs or at least could have had the opportunity to had you got to the 50th over. And if the medium pacers are getting carted in the power play, why persist with them? Sure, a spinner may do no better, but why not try?
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
1. we are shocking at the moment with the same players making starts and getting out to loose shots. that's ok if we wanna go bazballian, go faster, stack the batting. but we haven't 2. the attack has been ill disciplined for 12 months with wides and no balls. and keeps getting praised. and selected. 3. England bowled 6 bowlers only and they all did pretty good. Knight seemed to work out the pitch was tacky and bowled Capsey straight through - Maxwell nude balls we couldn't hit. Yet we bowled 8 bowlers in various ineffective combinations and it was really only when Gardner and Jonassen got an older ball with clever fields that we started to rell them in and almost stole a completely undeserved victory. 4. Litchfield Mooney Perry McGrath Healy Gardner Burns Flintoff Wareham Jonassen Garth that will win us the Ashes.