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Match Report:

Scorecard

Australia seal Ashes victory after Lanning blitz

Meg Lanning's epic knock set up a dominant victory as Australia secured a series win in the multi-format Ashes

The result: Australia 3-226 (Meg Lanning 133no, Beth Mooney 54; Sophie Ecclestone 2-42) defeated England 9-133 (Lauren Winfield 33, Katherine Brunt 29no; Megan Schutt 3-25) by 93 runs in the first Ashes T20I at Chelmsford

The match in a tweet: Australia win the Ashes! Meg Lanning’s record-breaking hundred and a superb display with the ball sees Australia storm Fortress Chelmsford in front of a sell-out Essex crowd

 

The hero: MEG-A-STAR. This is the innings Australia had been waiting for. Meg Lanning had flown relatively under the radar so far this multi-format women’s Ashes series – at least by her meteoric standards, given she’d scored two half-centuries – thanks to the exploits of the likes of Ellyse Perry leading into the T20 leg.

That changed in the space of 63 balls of madness on Friday night at Chelmsford as Lanning smashed an unbeaten 133, the highest ever individual score in a women’s T20 International.

The signs were there early when she came to the crease in the first over after the early loss of Alyssa Healy, as Lanning hit back-to-back boundaries in the fourth over and cleared the ropes in the sixth.

Lanning breaks records in stunning T20 knock

 

A half-century came off just 24 balls as the runs flowed from Lanning’s bat, and while she was handed a life on 85 when Tammy Beaumont put down a regulation chance at point, there was little else England could do to stem the flow of runs as she raced into the nineties.

Her century came up, fittingly, with a six and the Australian skipper’s delight was obvious as she whipped off her helmet and raised her bat.

But it was straight back to business for the 27-year-old, who cleared the boundary four more times to lead her team to their highest ever T20 total.

The capacity crowd at Chelmsford may have been firmly on the side of the home team but they nonetheless gave Lanning a deserved standing ovation at inning’s end.

Image Id: 701568497A3049A78AF79ADCD00D01EF Image Caption: Lanning. Legend // Getty

The record: Lanning’s 133no broke the record for highest individual score in a women’s T20I, surpassing the unbeaten 126 scored by Netherland’s Sterre Kallis earlier this year, who had in fact equalled Lanning's own record for the 126 she hit against Ireland at the World T20 in Bangladesh in 2014.

The Fortress conquered: England had never lost in international game at ‘Fortress Chelmsford’ heading into Friday’s match.

A sell-out crowd added to the hostile reception for the Australians but they failed to be overawed, not only inflicting England’s first defeat at the venue but doing so in ruthless fashion. After posting their highest-ever T20I total of 3-226, they took just four balls to remove the dangerous Danni Wyatt, who fell for a duck off Ellyse Perry’s opening over when Ashleigh Gardner took a blinder diving forward at third man.

England then found themselves 2-6 when Amy Jones (0) chipped a catch to mid-on, and things went from bad to worse when first Tammy Beaumont (8) was caught behind for Perry’s second, then captain Heather Knight was run out on three.

From 4-22 the hosts never recovered, Schutt finishing with 3-25 from four overs with Perry (2-11 off three) miserly.

The support acts: Beth Mooney’s innings was overshadowed by the heroics of her skipper, but her 33-ball 54 was crucial in putting England’s bowlers under serious pressure from ball one.

She shared a 134-run stand with Lanning as Australia reached 1-62 at the end of the power play, finding the boundary eight times and clearing the ropes once before being caught trying to go over the top of Lauren Winfield in the 13th over.

When Mooney departed, Gardner ensured there was no let up, striking 27 off 14, including one superb straight six down the ground off Natalie Sciver.

Image Id: B94A54755E54460EA9C02BD441E072CA Image Caption: Mooney in action // Getty

The consolation effort: Allrounder Sciver gave England a dream start when she took a stunning running catch to send Healy on her way in the opening over.

Running backwards with arms outstretched, Sciver held on to provide one of the few highlights of an otherwise dismal night for the hosts.

Handed a chance in the XI in place of the absent Sarah Taylor, Lauren Winfield gave the home fans something to cheer about with her 27-ball 33, while Katherine Brunt produced a typically entertaining 29no.

The state of the Ashes: With this victory, Australia have officially won the multi-format, points-based series after taking a 10-2 lead with two T20Is remaining.

It’s a stunning effort from Australia in what was billed as a battle for the ages between the world’s two best teams – the world’s only two fully professional teams – with the tourists on track to go through the seven matches undefeated after winning all three ODIs and drawing the Test before Friday’s efforts in Chelmsford.

The next stop: There’s little chance for either team to catch their breath with the second Ashes T20I to be played in Hove on Sunday afternoon. Play will begin at 2pm local time (11pm AEST) with broadcast live and free on the Nine Network and on ABC Radio..

Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Sophie Molineux, Jess Jonassen, Georgia Wareham, Delissa Kimmince, Megan Schutt, Nicola Carey.

England XI: Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver, Lauren Winfield, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Marsh, Katie Cross.

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, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

England T20 squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt

Australia lead England 10-2


First ODI: Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by four wickets

Third ODI:  Australia won by 194 runs

Only Test: Match Drawn

First T20: Australia won by 93 runs

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol