England prevail as Australia collapse

England denied Australia a T20 international series clean sweep on Sunday with a 40-run win in the second-to-last match of the Commonwealth Bank Ashes Series in Canberra.

Set 153 to win, Australia’s chase was on track at 0-45 after five overs but a collapse of 4-7 in 16 balls all but ended the pursuit, eventually bowled out for 112 with 12 balls to spare.

Heavy-hitting allrounder Katherine Brunt was named player of the match for her rapid 32 from 24 balls and 2-10 off four overs, a complete form reversal from Friday’s first T20I where she took 1-33 from three and was dismissed for a golden duck.

While Australia have already retained the Ashes, England can leave the tour on a high with a win in the final match at the same venue on Tuesday and level the overall series scoreline at eight points all. 

At the toss, England captain Heather Knight called correctly, elected to bat and announced seam bowler Anya Shrubsole would return in place of spinner Alex Hartley. 

Australia made one change too; leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington made way for off-spinner Molly Strano, who could have had a wicket with the first ball of the match had Ashleigh Gardner moved slightly quicker at mid-off and held on to a tough chance.

Elevated batter Danni Wyatt was the recipient of the early life and she went about making the most it, hitting four boundaries in the opening three overs. 

Her luck ran out on 19 when she drilled Megan Schutt to Rachael Haynes at mid-off, who fumbled the catch before holding on between her legs. 

Australia dropped six catches in the first T20I at North Sydney Oval on Friday night and it appeared as though the bug followed them to the nation’s capital when Gardner put down her second opportunity of the match, spilling Tammy Beaumont at mid-off.

Fortunately for the hosts it cost only five runs as Beaumont was trapped lbw by Jess Jonassen shortly after, hit on the back of her right shoulder after missing a lunging sweep shot. 

Sarah Taylor was typically innovative, reverse lapping and paddling her way to 30 before she was run out from a direct hit by Delissa Kimmince at point.  

Nat Sciver’s stay ended on a team-high 38 when she charged and top-edged Ellyse Perry and was caught by Haynes at mid-off to bring Knight to the crease in the 17th over.

The visiting captain lasted just three balls before she was yorked by Kimmince, leaving the late hitting to Brunt, who clobbered a towering six off Kimmince three balls after he skipper departed.

Brunt put another over the rope, this maximum off Sarah Aley, the ball after she was given not out to a ball that replays showed looked on track to spit the woodwork. 

Schutt returned for the final over to bowl Fran Wilson for six and concede just four runs in front of a swelling crowd in the nation’s capital.  

Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy started the pursuit in a hurry, at one stage combining to hit four consecutive boundaries across two overs and race to 0-42 from five overs.

From the first ball of the sixth over, Mooney chipped a return catch to Danni Hazell but the Australian was spared – Hazell had overstepped and was called for a no ball.

But it did not matter, Mooney added just one more single before she was run out from a perfect throw from Jenny Gunn at mid-off. Mooney knew she was gone as she continued to run toward to the dugout once the bails were broken.

Her wicket was the catalyst of the collapse, which saw Elyse Villani brilliantly stumped by Knight, Healy hole out to long-on and Perry unluckily drag a Brunt short ball on to her pads and then the stumps. 

Gardner showed a glimpse of her match-turning knock in the opening Women’s Ashes fixture in Brisbane when she launched Hazell for a mighty six, but just when the hosts called for composure she opted for carnage and was caught on the mid-wicket rope for eight. 

Haynes and Delissa Kimmince added 25 for the sixth wicket before the skipper picked out her counterpart Knight at short cover to give Sophie Ecclestone her first wicket. Four balls later the young left-arm spinner had her second when Kimmince advanced, missed and was bowled. 

Gunn cleaned up the tail to finish with 4-13 to set up a T20 series decider on Tuesday. 

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia lead England 8-6

Australia T20 squad: Sarah Aley, Alex Blackwell, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (c), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt.

Schedule

First ODI Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI Australia won by 75 runs (DLS method)

Third ODI England won by 20 runs (DLS method)

Day-Night Test Match drawn

First T20 Australia won by six wickets

North Sydney Charity Partner: McGrath Foundation

Second T20 England won by 40 runs

Third T20 Manuka Oval, November 21

Canberra Charity Partner: Lord's Taverners ACT