Australia threw the first punch with victory in the first one-day international, but the second punch might yet prove the knockout blow in this hard-fought Ashes Series as they rose from the canvas to demolish England in their attempt to chase down just 180.
Star bowlers Kim Garth and Alana King proved the difference, with King producing her best one-day international figures, including gaining the prized wicket of Nat Sciver-Brunt and then taking two scalps in consecutive balls in her final over to put the game beyond England’s reach.
King was named player of the match and then added some spice to the battle when she told reporters the Aussies had “held our nerve a lot longer” then their opponents in the desperate final overs when England still remained an outside chance to win.
She took 4-25, while the Irish-born Garth stopped the English from getting off to a good start by removing the visitors’ openers in the first six overs before dismissing Alice Capsey at a vital time of the innings. Garth finished with 3-37.
England’s Amy Jones kept the game interesting, taking it into the 49th over, however bizarre tactics at the finish – where she refused to expose her batting partners to the Australian attack – cost the team their chance of victory with the visitors eventually losing by 21 runs to enter Friday’s match in Hobart trailing the series four points to zero.
Her reluctance to take singles led to Lauren Filer’s run out, and also the final dismissal when Lauren Bell was bowled after Jones had a brain fade and did not take a run after a free hit was sent into the deep on the final ball of the 48th over. Bell was bowled with the first ball of the next over to give Australia victory.
Capsey defended the tactics, saying the group was confident if Jones faced enough balls she could get them over the line. But her lack of game awareness at the end of the 48th over was a harsh lesson.
It took a mighty effort from Australia, who were earlier humbled by English spinners Capsey and Sophie Ecclestone, who took seven wickets between them to reduce the home side to their lowest score batting first since 2009 as they were bowled out for the first time at the Junction Oval.
Australia celebrate winning game two of the women’s Ashes ODI seriesCredit: Getty Images
But Australia haven’t won their reputation as the game’s best team by throwing in the towel, and their persistence and pressure eventually wore the English down as they lost 3-16 within seven overs. Key batters Heather Knight and Sciver-Brunt were among the trio dismissed as both found leading edges to be out caught.
“That’s the beauty of this group,” King said. “We never back down, no matter whether our backs are against the wall, and we definitely did have our backs against the wall with a sub-par score with the bat.”
All of a sudden, the Australians had their strut back and England were feeling the pressure that comes when chasing down a relatively small total.
Jones kept Ashleigh Gardner nervous by remaining at the crease until the end after Gardner dropped a relatively simple catch at backward point. Jones played well for 47 off 103 balls, but her questionable tactics devalued her contribution.
It was a brave win from the Aussies, but they have some selection decisions after Tahlia McGrath again failed with the bat as the home side collapsed from a dominant position, losing 8-49 at one stage.
The rot started when Australia were 2-131 after 23 overs. Ellyse Perry was scoring freely to bring up her half-century and Beth Mooney was trying to scurry between the wickets to tighten the screws on the opposition.
Alyssa Healy had made 29 off 19 balls and Phoebe Litchfield had played a grinding innings for 29 to set the foundation for Perry, who appeared harder to move than a beach cabana.
The Aussies were aggressive – confident enough in their batting order to attack the bowling with lofted drives – but against the spin of Ecclestone and Capsey, who took 3-22, the method came unstuck.
Mooney missed a straight one to be adjudged in front lbw after a review, before Sutherland lobbed a sharp catch to Knight and Perry again fell victim to a review to be adjudged leg-before on 60. Perry looked excellent until that moment, with five fours and two sixes the highlights of her 74-ball innings.
Gardner fell for two and McGrath for one as the Aussies lost 4-7 to be in unfamiliar territory; however, they will take confidence as they showed their ability to win from any position. King said the batting collapse wouldn’t be glossed over, with the team probably needing to adapt quicker to the conditions and find ways to score on tricky pitches.
A disappointed Capsey said they were confident they could run down 180, but the series was still alive with 12 points up for grabs in the remaining one-day international, three T20s and a day-night test match to be played.
She said England was bowling well but their batters need to turn starts into big scores with Perry’s 60 having a huge influence on the result while Knight 18 and Sciver-Brunt 35 failed to capitalise.
“We have missed a real opportunity to get two points on the board,” Capsey said. “There will be severe disappointment within the group.”
