Women’s Ashes: Beth Mooney just short of century as Australia sets England 163 runs to win

A superb unbeaten half-century to Beth Mooney propelled Australia to a commanding 72-run win in Saturday night’s T20 International against England at Adelaide Oval, the result continuing the visitors’ Women’s Ashes nightmare.

Beth Mooney of Australia celebrates after reaching her half century during game three of the T20 International Women's Ashes series at Adelaide Oval on January 25, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

A superb unbeaten half-century to Beth Mooney propelled Australia to a commanding 72-run win in Saturday night’s T20 International against England at Adelaide Oval, the result continuing the visitors’ Women’s Ashes nightmare.

Mooney shared a 56-run opening partnership with Georgia Voll (23 runs off 21 balls) that laid the foundation for the home side’s 5-162, and finished with 94 runs from 63 balls, with her 25th half-century for Australia including 10 fours.

Chasing a target of 163, England lost early wickets to be 5-39 after seven overs and was never in the hunt, all out for 90 in the 18th over in front of a record crowd of 10,291 fans.

The result meant Australia won all three of the T20Is of the multi-format series, following on from its 3-0 win in the opening three ODIs.

Having swept the opening six matches of the series to retain the Ashes in fine style, Australia has a 12-0 points lead and will look to close out the emphatic drubbing when the series concludes with a historic day-night Test at the MCG starting on January 30.

Beth Mooney defeats ENG in the 3rd T20I by 4 runs

#AUSvENG

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) January 25, 2025

EMBARRASS THEM

Grace Harris added some extra spice to the clash after asserting that ruthless Australia wanted to “embarrass” and “thrash” England to close out the series unbeaten.

The home side took that hard-nosed approach into the field where Australia’s bowlers ensured their Ashes whitewash dream remained alive.

Sophia Dunkley (5) was caught off the first ball of the second over, Alice Capsey (6) departed in the third, and Natalie Sciver-Brunt (1) was bowled by Annabel Sutherland in the fourth,

Beth Mooney smashed 10 boundaries on her way to an unbeaten 94. Picture: Getty Images

England in all sorts at 3-23.

But worse was to come.

Bowling the seventh over, leg-spinner Georgia Wareham’s first ball of the night removed Danielle Wyatt-Hodge (17) and Amy Jones (0) went LBW with her third.

England was 7-48 when Wareham struck for her third in the ninth over, the leggie finishing her best T20I figures of 3-11 from her four overs.

MOONEY MAGIC

Mooney was the aggressor as Australia’s opening pair took the total to 0-44 from the Power Play.

She belted three balls in succession to the boundary ropes off the second over of the innings bowled by Freya Kemp, the first a late cut, the second a glorious straight drive and the third a powerful pull shot off a waist high full toss.

Fifty runs came up off 41 balls, but the boundaries dried up, Voll departing as she tried to find the boundary and instead holed out to Wyatt-Hodge.

After 33 balls without a boundary, Mooney ended the drought in fine style with another well-time late cut and a ramp for four.

With Phoebe Litchfield (12), Ellyse Perry (12) and Grace Harris (11) making starts but failing to go on with it, Mooney was the lynchpin.

She was an outside chance of reaching triple figures going into the final over on 86 runs, but a century eluded her after was unable to reach the boundary in an over that went for 10 runs.

Mooney’s magical touch continued early in England’s innings, the wicketkeeper taking a superb catch down the legside to have the visitors 2-12 in the third over.

She capped her great night with a brilliant take and run out of Linsey Smith after a stunning pick up and throw from Perry, and a superb stumping to remove Heather Knight (40) and end the match.

Originally published as Women’s Ashes: Beth Mooney just short of century as Australia sets England 163 runs to win