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Match Report:

Scorecard

Australia launch Ashes campaign in style

Jess Jonassen did the damage with the ball before Rachael Haynes led the way with the bat as Australia overcame the England Academy in Loughborough

Australia have kickstarted their women’s Ashes campaign in style, cruising to a comfortable six-wicket victory over an England Academy team in Loughborough.

A three-wicket haul to Jess Jonassen restricted the Academy team to 7-184 from a shortened 39 overs, before an unbeaten half-century from Rachael Haynes steered the tourists home with 7.4 overs to spare.

Light morning rain delayed play by almost three hours at the Haslegrove Ground, frustrating both teams – although the stoppage did grant Australian wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy time to work on some other skills.

The toss was eventually held two hours after the scheduled start of play, when a shivering Australian skipper Meg Lanning elected to bowl first.

A flexible approach to the practice game allowed Australia to test out all their bowling options and it was spearhead Megan Schutt who wasted little time finding the first breakthrough as Maia Bouchier was caught behind without scoring in the third over.

Fran Wilson – hoping to push her claims for a spot in England’s ODI side for the opening match of the multi-format Ashes on July 2 – was dismissed off the bowling of Nicola Carey for 20 from 21 balls, before allrounder Sophia Dunkley was next to go, becoming Jonassen’s first victim when she was bowled on five, leaving the Academy team in trouble at 3-71.

At the other end, opener Bryony Smith took it to the Australian attack, finding the boundary 10 times on her way to a half-century and sharing in a 48-run stand with captain Georgia Elwiss (48no) before eventually being dismissed for 68 from 84 deliveries.

Jonassen collected another two wickets to finish with superb figures of 3-19 from six overs, with Schutt (1-17 off six overs), Ellyse Perry (1-12 off four), Carey (1-30 off five) and Kimmince (1-17 off four) the other wicket takers.

As the temperature continued to drop, the Australians looked to make fast work of the chase. Elyse Villani, filling in at the top of the order for Nicole Bolton who sat out the match with a cold, was caught on the boundary having gone after a rank full toss from Elwiss, out for seven.

Having packed away the golf clubs, Healy instead focused on teeing off on the English bowlers, finding the boundary four times and clearing it twice before being caught on 35 off 28.

Lanning’s lean warm-up match form continued when she had her stumps rattled by Freya Davies on 2, but the remainder of the Australian batters enjoyed valuable time in the middle.

Ellyse Perry (38 off 45), Haynes (55no off 62) and Beth Mooney (45no off 38) all found their feet on the slow surface as Australia reached their target in the 33rd over.

Australia will meet the Academy team in a second warm-up game at the same venue on Friday from 10.30am local time (7.30pm AEST).

Australia XIII: Alyssa Healy (wk), Elyse Villani, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck

England Academy: Georgia Elwiss (c), Fran Wilson, Sophia Dunkley, Ellie Threlkeld (wk), Alice Davidson-Richards, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Freya Davies, Alex Hartley, Kirstie Gordon, Katie George, Bryony Smith, Mady Villiers

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

June 26: Australia beat England Academy by six wickets

June 28:  England Academy v Australia, Loughborough

July 2: First ODI, Grace Road, Leicester

July 4: Second ODI, Grace Road, Leicester

July 7:  Third ODI, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

July 11-13: England Academy v Australia, Marlborough College, Swindon

July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol

A Test victory is worth four points (two each for a draw), two points are awarded for ODI and T20 wins