The Australia women’s team started the three-match Women’s Ashes series with a win after they defeated the England women’s team by 27 runs, in the first ODI of the series, played at the Manuka Oval, in Canberra, on February 3 (Thursday).
Batting first, the hosts scored a total of 205 runs losing 9 wickets in 50 overs. Australia lost their first wicket in the fourth over of the innings as they lost their opening batsman Rachael Haynes (4 runs off 13 balls). English medium pacer Anya Shrubsole picked up the first wicket of the match.
Solid partnerships
After that Australia wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy (27 runs off 42 balls) and skipper Meg Lanning (28 runs off 51 deliveries) registered a solid partnership of 47 runs off 81 balls to avert the initial danger.
Lanning was next to be dismissed after England fast bowler Kate Cross broke the vital partnership.
Later, Beth Mooney played a fine knock of 73 runs off 91 balls and was a part of two crucial partnerships. In the first partnership, Mooney along with Tahila McGrath (29 runs off 48 balls) notched 58 runs off 84 balls.
In the second partnership Alana King (18 runs off 29 balls) supported Mooney in registering a fine partnership of 52 runs off 52 deliveries.
Mooney looked set to score a century but eventually she was dismissed by Katherine Brunt as Lauren Winfield-Hill took a brilliant catch at mid off. The 28-year-old Australia cricketer’s innings was comprised of 8 boundaries and a solitary six.
For England, their bowlers- Cross and Brunt picked up three wickets each.
The run chase
In reply, English team lost their opening batter Winfield-Hill (13 runs of 29 balls) in the fourth over of the match. Then, a huge batting disaster saw the England team lose next five wickets scoring just 103 runs.
For Australia, their, teenage fast bowler Darcie Brown picked up four wickets, as Megan Schutt, Jess Jonassen and Tahila McGrath picked up two wickets each.
Nat Sciver (45 runs off 66 balls) and Brnt (32 not out off 46 balls) made some efforts to secure victory for their team but ultimately they could only reach a total of 178 runs in 45 overs.
The next ODI of the series will take place on February 6, in Melbourne.
