Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner thrive in game one of Women’s Ashes for Australia
Aussie captain Alyssa Healy put any concerns about her troublesome knee to rest with a matchwinning display to open the Women’s Ashes against England while Ash Gardner was also influential.
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Any concerns over Alyssa Healy’s troublesome knee were put to bed on Sunday as the skipper made a statement 70 in Australia’s nervy four-wicket win in the first ODI of the women’s Ashes.
It’s been a frustrating few months for the veteran wicketkeeper who has battled foot and knee injuries, but it was Healy who inflicted plenty of pain on England who are now on the back foot as they attempt to regain the Ashes.
The visitors only managed 204 with the bat which was never going to be enough despite some shaky moments in the chase which included Phoebe Litchfield edging one in the second over.
But while her teammates struggled, Healy anchored the innings with a fluent 70 off 78 which included 11 boundaries and plenty of sharp singles to test out the knee which looked comfortable in her return to wicketkeeping duties.
“She’s going to take a lot of confidence out of today,” player of the match Ash Gardner said.
“Even watching the way that she was batting throughout that New Zealand series (last month), she was striking the ball really well and got some starts.
“I know from a body point of view that she’s going to take a lot of confidence out of keeping for as long as she did and then to be able to back that up at the top of the order.”
The veteran opener was given out LBW when she was on four but successfully reviewed the decision, with the skipper eventually knocked over for 70 by Charlie Dean.
It was left to Ash Gardner (42 not out) to get the Aussies home with 67 balls remaining as the hosts took an early 2-0 lead in the multi-format series.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
England’s meek start to the series was perfectly summed up by their two best batters throwing away their wickets in almost identical fashion to completely derail what looked like a promising first innings.
Heather Knight was cruising on 39 but the skipper threw away her wicket when she tried to sweep a ball that was pitched well outside her off stump, with Ellyse Perry running in to take a nice catch.
Fans could have been excused for thinking they’d seen a replay when Nat Sciver-Brunt played a similar shot to be caught by Perry off the bowling of Gardner (3-19) two overs later to leave the tourists reeling at 4-95.
Plenty of batters got starts but no one reached 40 at a ground where big scores are the norm, with England’s leaders needing to fire when the series shifts to Melbourne.
GOTTA CATCH THOSE
It’s too early to say that Alice Capsey dropped the Ashes but she didn’t help the tourists when she put down an absolute sitter in the deep when Perry was on seven, with the Aussie veteran unable to take advantage of the second chance.
England then had the chance to remove Gardner on 31 when she spooned a shot to Sixers teammate Sophie Ecclestone who dropped her when Australia was six down and needing 22 to win.
“Sophie doesn’t drop many catches,” Lauren Bell said after watching the ball go down off her bowling.
“I think that she had it. I don’t think you could do that again if she tried. She hit her elbow and the ball literally popped out.
“I was celebrating because I was sure (she caught it) but it is what it is.”
DAY FOR IT
The record-breaking crowds have been one of the highlights of the summer, and the trend continued on a picture perfect day in Sydney where the only issue was trying to find a beer before they ran out.
There was no room on the hill at North Sydney Oval as 6236 fans – a venue record for a women’s international – soaked up the action, with one spectator hanging onto an epic juggling catch without spilling a drop of his drink.
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