Kimmince five-for trumps Beaumont hundred as Australia seal ODI series

Delissa Kimmince derailed England with career-best figures of 5 for 26 to set up Australia's four-wicket win in the second ODI at Grace Road in Leicester on Thursday (July 4). In a game that followed a pattern similar to that of the first ODI, Australia held their nerve after England had been in a strong position thanks to Tammy Beaumont's sixth ODI century.

Kimmince played for Yorkshire Diamonds in the 2018 edition of the Women's Cricket Super League and it is fair to say she did not have a good competition with the ball in that tournament. Her returns read, two wickets from nine games.

On Thursday, she showed the skills that have made her an important part of this Australia side: variation with the ball, athleticism in the field and grit with the bat. The allrounder may not be seen as a star draw, but there is a heart to her game that means she gives everything.

Earlier in the day, England was forced into a change before a ball was bowled as an ankle niggle kept Sarah Taylor on the sidelines.

After the early loss of Amy Jones caught trying to flick through mid-wicket England consolidated through Beaumont and Heather Knight. The pair added 70 for the second wicket. It should have set the base for a competitive total, but England's lower-middle order failed to kick on.

It was Kimmince who changed the course of the game on a slow pitch. She used her cutters and cross seam deliveries to good effect, making it hard for the batters to understand the pace of a wearing pitch.

While the lower order kept England in the game during the first ODI, in the second game, they lost their last six wickets for just 34 runs. Their total of 217 all out was well below par, and was always going to be difficult to defend.

The failure of the rest of the line-up highlights the maturity and skill of Beaumont’s innings. She said that she "never felt in."

When England went out to field there was a determination to give it their best shot. Early wickets were going to be key and they did just that. Nicole Bolton nicked a wide delivery and Alyssa Healy followed her an over later.

Anya Shrubsole looked to have a plan to the Australian wicketkeeper keeping it out wide of off-stump and it paid off as Healy hit another wide delivery to Danni Wyatt at point.

Those wickets brought Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning to the middle. Both looked comfortable at the crease. They were able to play low-risk cricket and still find the boundary.

However, against the run of play, Lanning was bowled by a Katherine Brunt slower ball that not only saw her end to the game but nearly Brunt’s as well. In celebrating the wicket of Lanning for 18 Brunt jarred her ankle and had to leave the field.

England were on top having reduced Australia to 59 for 3. Laura Marsh was keeping the run-rate down as her off-spin proved difficult to get away.

Perry carried on doing Perry things while Rachael Haynes at the other end played calmly. They weren’t going at any express pace in the chase but Haynes did hit a sweetly timed six off Sophie Ecclestone.

There was a debate about whether Perry had been stumped on four. The replays were not conclusive mainly down to the angle of the square-leg camera. Perry was given the reprieve and continued on her merry way. By the time the allrounder was dismissed, she had scored a valuable 62.

At 158 for 6, still requiring 60 runs, lesser teams might have panicked but Australia showed the strength of their batting. Beth Mooney (43*) and Jess Jonassen (31*)  played sensibly, looking for the quick singles and dispatching the bad ball. They took Australia home without any further hiccups.

The third ODI will move on to Canterbury on Sunday (July 7). Another win for Australia there should all but retain the Ashes. England will need to turn things around quickly.

Brief Score:

England 217 all out (Beaumont 114, Wyatt 25; Kimmince 5-26) lost to Australia 218-6 (Perry 62, Mooney 43*, Jonassen 31*, Shrubsole 3-47) by 4 wickets.