Third ODI: Australia defeats England decisively by 86 runs
In the third and final ODI, Australia defeated England by 86 runs thanks to an outstanding batting performance that left them in a position to win the Women’s Ashes again.
The hosts reached 308 in Hobart thanks to Ashleigh Gardner’s incredible 102 from as many balls, while England’s 222 was insufficient.
After a decisive 86-run victory in the third and final ODI, Ashleigh Gardner’s historic century and a strong performance by leg-spinners Alana King and Georgia Wareham have put the Australians in a position to win the Ashes again.
Before Wareham’s late burst of 38 runs off 12 saw Australia to 8-308, Gardner’s 102 saved the team from a hazardous situation at Bellerive Oval at 4-59. She shared vital partnerships with Beth Mooney (50 off 64) and Tahlia McGrath (55 off 35).
Despite Tammy Beaumont’s valiant 77, King (5-46) and Wareham (2-27) combined to hammer England for 222 in 42.2 overs after Megan Schutt (3-57) gave Australia a solid start with the ball.
England’s chase, which had to be the most successful chase in women’s ODI history, could not have begun worse when Schutt removed Maia Bouchier for a duck in the first over. In addition, Heather Knight (14) left cheaply, once again to Schutt, putting England in a precarious position at 2-29. Natalie Sciver-Brunt (61 off 68) and Beaumont (54 off 77) steadied, putting up an 89-run third-wicket partnership that increased expectations of a stunning victory and held the needed run rate in control.
However, Wareham’s arrival in the 25th over produced an instant impact as the leg-spinner first removed Beaumont’s leg stump before repeating the action to clean bowl Sciver-Brunt.
After their dismissals, it turned into a parade as King swept through the lower-order and the Australians put on a fielding clinic. Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge attacked to get England’s total to 200.
Kim Garth finished Jones’ day with a low to her right at short fine leg, while Phoebe Litchfield dislodged Wyatt-Hodge for 35 with a spectacular diving catch.
Sophie Ecclestone’s shot appeared to be headed for six, but the all-rounder stepped in on the rope, pushing the ball back into play before she leaped back over the boundary to make the grab. Gardner, predictably, took the most spectacular of the lot.
After being pushed down the order to No. 7, the Australia vice-captain had been under some pressure with the bat, but he reacted spectacularly with a half-century off only 38 balls.
After Australia started a strong run of 50-over matches six weeks ago, Gardner had regained her batting form. She was able to handle England’s elegant spin attack and reach fifty off 53 deliveries.
The 27-year-old reached triple digits from 100 deliveries in Hobart after recording a career-best 74 against New Zealand in Wellington last month.
By being the first Aboriginal woman to score an international century and the first woman to score an ODI century while batting at number six, she cemented her place in history.
England had to mount the greatest chase in women’s ODI history to earn their first points of the Ashes series after Australia amassed 104 runs from the last 10 overs to reach 8-308.
Particular punishment was meted out to Bell and Ecclestone, England’s star bowlers from the first two ODIs, who finished with numbers of 1-72 and 1-76, respectively.
With just two more games required to win the Ashes, Australia now leads the points-based series 6-0. To recover the title, England will have to win the day-night Test at the MCG as well as all three Twenty20 Internationals. In this series, Australia once again established their supremacy, forcing England to relinquish a position of strength.
Ashleigh Gardner, Player of the Match: “Something I have been searching for. Getting a hundred for my country. Some emotions when I got to that. I was able to sit back and appreciate and let it sink it. Different people stood up at different points, Kingy took a five-for. I haven’t scored too many centuries in my life. To do it for my country, to share the partnership with Moons and TMac, I am sure she will take confidence from that innings. Emotional but one tick off. I clearly misjudged that because I took that one-handed. But then managed to throw it back in, you don’t practice it in heaps, luckily instincts took over.”
Heather Knight, England captain: “They played really nicely. We bowled brilliantly upfront. Ash and Mooney’s partnership was good, couple of chances went down, frustrating. We lost a few quick wickets and the rate went up quickly. We went to our options well. Tammy was proactive but they bowled well to her. Happy with the approach but when chase 300 we need big partnerships.”
Alyssa Healy, Australia captain: “You keep telling me facts I don’t know! It was good, all-round we were good. Did not start well with the bat. We talk about batting depth and good to put it on show. It was a decent batting wicket.”
Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris+, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vc), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross*, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson+, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath+, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp+, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith+, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
