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Cricket

Australia beat England in second ODI of Ashes by three runs

Despite Nat Sciver-Brunt’s undefeated century, Australia levelled the Ashes by three runs in this one-day international at the Ageas Bowl on Sunday. England were 203 for seven when Sarah Glenn joined Sciver-Brunt at the bat, with an implausible 80 runs needed from the last 68 balls to complete their highest-ever victory chase – but Sciver-Brunt took just enough smart risks to keep them in the hunt.

After being caught at deep midwicket by a sprawling Georgia Wareham on 97 in the penultimate over, she brought up her hundred the very next ball, scraping through Ash Gardner’s yorker to longon for a single. However, the work was not finished: 15 runs were required from Jess Jonassen’s last over. Although Sciver-Brunt’s maiden slogsweep hit the boundary off the third ball, she was left requiring five off the final delivery and could only manage a single.

Desperate to end a three-game losing run and retain the Ashes, Australia slipped to 2-27 and 4-102 early against a resurgent England side. Perry preserved Australia by batting calmly for 91 runs before falling to Sophie Ecclestone in the closing overs. Following that, Georgia Wareham hit 26 off Lauren Bell’s final over, helping England to complete the second-highest women’s ODI chase in history. But it was Perry who made the most of a difference. She contributed 56 runs to their partnership with Ashleigh Gardner, and they scored 81 runs for the sixth wicket with Annabel Sutherland (50 off 47).

Phoebe Litchfield was out in the second over after getting caught lbw by Bell (3-85) before Alyssa Healy blasted the seamer straight to short third on 13. Beth Mooney was out after brushing a ball down legside off Sophie Ecclestone before Tahlia McGrath attempted to cut leg spinner Sophie Glenn and was caught behind for five. At that point, Australia was on course for a poor score.

Perry, on the other hand, ensured that her side had something to bowl at by pushing the ball farther down the ground and once hitting Ecclestone for six over her own head. Australia’s seasoned batswoman seemed to be on pace for another century before being run out while attempting to take Ecclestone (3-40) on again, while Sutherland, who had just hit her first ODI half-century, also fell in the same over.

With one game remaining in the series, Australia now holds an insurmountable 8-6 advantage in series points. But even if England’s hopes of winning the Ashes for the first time in ten years were quelled they once again lived up to their coach Jon Lewis’ expectations.

Brief score: Australia 282-7 (Ellyse Perry 91, Annabel Sutherland 50; Sophie Ecclestone 3-40) vs England 279-7 (Nat Sciver-Brunt 111*, Tammy Beaumont 60; Alana King 3-44).

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