Women's Ashes - 3rd T20I

England and Australia saved their best until last. Beth Mooney shone for Australia, while Danni Wyatt judged the chase to perfection, with able support from her captain Heather Knight. Australia will look back on a night of what could have been; as they managed to drop four catches that allowed England a way back into the game. A game they would been confident of winning after posting 178 for 2.

 

Beth Mooney continued her good form by becoming only the second Australian to a hundred in Women’s T20 internationals; Meg Lanning being the first. Attacking from the start, Mooney never relented and not only scored at a fast rate but scored all around the ground.

 

It meant that the players batting with her had to settle for supporting roles; not that this is usually expected of Alyssa Healy, Elyse Villani and Ellyse Perry. They all still managed to score at better than a run a ball, as Australia looked poised to take the game away from England.

 

When one looks at the scorecard, it looks like it was a relatively easy victory for England; there were, however, some bumps in the road as England got off to a nervous start. It didn’t help that Tammy Beaumont was caught in her second ball in the first over.

 

Sarah Taylor and Nat Sciver were soon to follow her. Sciver was run out eventually, but she gave the Australian fielders a couple of opportunities as the England batsmen hit and run at several balls, that on any other day would have seen a number of run outs.

 

Finally, Wyatt was joined by a player who was as cool under pressure. Knight, along with Wyatt set about their task and started to up the run-rate. It seemed to get to the Australian fielders; who uncharacteristically dropped four catches; two by the ever-dependable Healy. During the World Cup, Wyatt lost her place in the England side, due to the improved form of others, but it was Wyatt who led the way for the England victory.

 

With the form of Lauren Winfield far forms her peak of 2016, there is a genuine place up for grabs at the top of the order, and Wyatt has given her chances of taking that spot no harm in this series. Wyatt had only scored her first international fifty only days before.

 

The right-handed batter took little time in adding a first hundred and did it in some style. Her innings of exactly 100 came from only 57 balls and included 13 fours and 2 sixes. With Knight scoring 51, the pair added 139 for the fourth wicket.

 

It was not enough to see England over the line, but they had done enough, to be put in a position to win, and Fran Wilson and Jenny Gunn had little to do to get England over the line with six balls to spare.

 

It will be a worry for Australia that they let this game slip away so easily. It was a record chase in Women’s T20 internationals, and with the World T20 only a year away in the Caribbean, their recent form in the format will be a worry.

 

The WBBL that is coming up will, however, give the Australians a chance to look at certain fringe players.

 

England will be happy that they have been able to draw this series. England showed that they have some depth, albeit not to the same extent of Australia.

 

Both teams have shown some exciting cricket and with record attendances, the future of women’s cricket looks in good hands.