England declare Women’s Ashes sequence draw after recent heroics from Nat Sciver-Brunt
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at Sciver-Brunt was the hero once more as England claimed a Women’s Ashes sequence draw with a 69-run win over Australia on the DLS technique within the remaining ODI in Taunton.
Victory noticed the multi-series format drawn 8-8, the identical rating as when England final averted Ashes defeat in Australia 5 years in the past, and meant England had received each the ODI and Twenty20 sequence 2-1. Australia had already retained the Ashes by profitable the second ODI in Southampton on Sunday.
Fresh from her unbeaten 111 at Southampton, Sciver-Brunt made her second hundred within the house of three days – 129 from 149 balls – as Australia have been set a difficult 286 for victory.
Batting of the very best order additionally secured Sciver-Brunt a fourth century from 5 ODIs towards Australia, and the seventh of her England profession on this format.
Australia’s goal was diminished to 269 from 44 overs by rain and, regardless of Ashleigh Gardner offering transient hope with a bludgeoning 41 from 24 balls, they have been bowled out for 199 as England ran out comfy winners to the delight of a capability crowd.
England, having misplaced the toss, have been quickly in bother as openers Sophia Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont departed with simply 12 runs on the board. Captain Heather Knight and Sciver-Brunt rose to the problem of repairing the innings, main England to 43 for 2 by the tip of the primary powerplay after 10 overs.
Runs got here freely with Knight discovering gaps within the subject with ease and Sciver-Brunt, who survived a stumping assessment off Gardner on 25, touchdown a six on the boundary cushion with imperious precision.
But with McGrath spilling a return likelihood off Sciver-Brunt, then on 54, the third-wicket partnership was price 147 when Knight superior down the wicket to Alana King and was bowled for 67, her 72-ball keep containing six fours and a six. Alice Capsey dragged Jess Jonassen to long-on for 5 however big roars greeted Sciver-Brunt as she reached three figures off 126 balls.
England entered the ultimate 10 overs searching for to speed up and Danni Wyatt performed the proper cameo with a whirlwind 43 from 25 balls earlier than being bowled making an attempt to chop a full-length ball from Gardner.
Amy Jones was run out for six and Sciver-Brunt’s resistance lastly ended within the forty eighth over as Jonassen tempted an airborne pull into the secure arms of Gardner. The latter then received an lbw assessment towards Charlie Dean to complete with three for 39 and Jonassen additionally collected a 3rd scalp by castling Kate Cross as England closed on 285 for 9.
Australia, as England had achieved, misplaced two early wickets. Phoebe Litchfield fell for one to Lauren Bell, with Sophie Ecclestone accepting a low likelihood at first slip, and Alyssa Healy was cleaned up by a magnificence from Cross as Australia slipped to fifteen for 2.
Tahlia McGrath appeared nicely set on 26 as Australia steadied the ship, however Ecclestone’s flight deceived her and Jones accomplished a wise stumping.
The gamers have been pressured off by rain with Australia 97 for 3 after 19.2 overs, with England dealing with potential heartbreak as they wanted to bowl 20 overs to represent a accomplished match. But the gamers have been again on the sector 54 minutes later, with Australia’s revised goal asking them to attain at seven runs an over.
Ellyse Perry, having reached her half-century with a free-hit six, supplied a steepling catch to Capsey off Cross on 53, and Beth Mooney drove straight to Ecclestone at mid-off to offer Cross a 3rd sufferer.
Australia got hope as Gardner went on the offensive, taking 17 from a Bell over, however her acceptance of a dangerous second after Sutherland drove by way of the covers proved deadly as she was simply wanting her floor when Cross took the bails off from Wyatt’s throw.
Australia by no means recovered as Jones produced one other glorious stumping to take away Wareham for 14 and Dean, referred to as up with Sarah Glenn needing surgical procedure for appendicitis, bowled Sutherland for 18.
King went for nought as Jones held a towering catch and England’s win was accomplished as Bell held a thick edge from Jonassen at quick third.