Australia are just one win away from retaining the Women’s Ashes after they claimed the first T20 in the multi-format series against England this morning.
Beth Mooney produced a clutch player-of-the-match-winning 61 not-out to guide Australia to a four-wicket victory.
The tourists looked to be cruising at 2-130 in their chase of 154, when Sarah Glenn and Lauren Bell combined to take 3-10 in the next 11 balls, with Test hero Ash Gardner, Grace Harris and Ellyse Perry all being sent packing.
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But two quick boundaries at the end of the 19th over steadied the ship and left Australia needing just five from the final over.
That was reduced to a single after Annabel Sutherland spanked Sophie Ecclestone for four down the ground off the first ball, before Ecclestone – and some brilliant England fielding – produced two dots.
Ecclestone then produced a final twist when she had Sutherland caught trying to hoick the winning runs over mid-wicket, instead getting a top-edge allowing ‘keeper Amy Jones to run around and take an easy catch.
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But facing her first ball, Georgia Wareham calmly pushed it to cover. A slight misfield allowed her and Mooney to scamper through for the winning single.
Despite spending the final over at the non-striker’s end, Mooney said she had faith in her teammates to get the job done.
“I was on the edge of my seat at the non-striker’s end but I had faith in the girls,” she said.
All Australian wickets – first Women’s Ashes T20
“We bat pretty deep. It’s a nice luxury to have when the game comes down to the wire.”
Earlier, a half-century to Sophia Dunkley, 40 not-out to Amy Jones and a 29 to skipper Heather Knight were the only notable scores as England finished their 20 overs 7-153.
Mooney said the Aussies perhaps let them score too many.
“I think the wicket was pretty good. Probably on the slow side. Maybe we let them get a bit too much but I thought they batted exceptionally well,” she said.
“Perhaps that is something we will look at. We just managed to scrape over the line.”
Mooney said playing a T20 only days after finishing a Test was “helter-skelter”.
“We’re six points up but we know the quality that’s in this England side so there’s no doubt that they’ll come back.”
The second T20 of the women’s Ashes series will be in the early hours of Thursday morning (AEST).
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