Australia win Women’s Ashes series after miserable England batting display

Australia strolled to victory in the second one-day international of the women’s Ashes, winning the overall series with a game to spare having retained the trophy in the previous outing. Until this point England had provided a good contest, but on Sunday were rolled for a paltry 129 after being sent in to bat at Melbourne’s Junction Oval and bowled out in 42.5 overs. Australia chased the score five wickets down in with nearly 15 overs to spare.

This was Australia’s first Ashes win at home in the multi-format style that combines 50-over, 20-over and Test cricket. Charlotte Edwards led England to a win in 2013-14, and Heather Knight’s 2017 team tied: the Australians went large on celebrations after retaining the trophy, only for England to win the final two matches. The same scenario was possible this time, England trailing 4-8 on points with two games to play, but none of the Australian players or staff from last time had forgotten that frustration. History never looked a chance to repeat.

Australia beat England by five wickets in second ODI to win Women’s Ashes – as it happened

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England began well enough, scoring at four runs an over through the first 10 and only losing Tammy Beaumont after edging Ellyse Perry. That wicket fell to a blinder, too – keeper Alyssa Healy diving to her right to have the ball nestle in the very tip of her glove webbing, turning mid-air to land on her left arm and protect the right, and stopping the catch jarring free.

But new leg-spinner Alana King again had influence belying her experience, taking her first ODI wicket when trapping Lauren Winfield-Hill for 28 with a straight ball in the 11th over. Through King and left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, the scoring dried up, 17 run in seven overs before Sciver lost patience and tried to launch Jonassen. Not to the pitch, she aimed at midwicket but delivered a top edge to cover. England’s most damaging striker had made 8 from 25 balls.