Warrior Beth Mooney and rookie Darcie Brown seal Ashes triumph
Less than three weeks after surgery on a broken jaw, Australia’s warrior batter once again proved her mettle.
Less than three weeks after surgery on a broken jaw, Australia’s warrior batter Beth Mooney once again proved her mettle with a lone hand to seal the Ashes in the opening ODI at Manuka Oval.
The player of the match steered Australia to 9-205, to give the home side’s bowlers a total to defend on a tricky wicket.
Rookie quick Darcie Brown (4-34) and player of the summer Tahlia McGrath (2-34) never allowed England’s batters to get on top and the visitors were eventually bowled out for 178.
In what was a must-win game for England, skipper Heather Knight sent Australia in, no doubt aware that captain Meg Lanning is regarded as the best chaser in the history of the women’s game.
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However, Lanning nor the other members of the Big Three – Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry – were able to make their mark on the scoreboard, leaving Mooney to do the damage.
Lanning in particular struggled for fluency, but it was fitting that the skipper brought up her 4000th run in ODIs with a trademark cover drive. She became the third Australian behind Belinda Clark (4844) and Karen Rolton (4814) to reach the milestone. Only Clark in the history of the women’s game has achieved it in fewer matches than Lanning’s 89.
The skipper (28 from 51) was bowled shortly after and two balls later, when Perry was caught and bowled by Sophie Ecclestone for a golden duck, Mooney was at the crease with her side in trouble.
Healy (27 from 42) fell shortly after, brilliantly stumped by keeper Amy Jones, leaving Mooney with the all-rounders and tail.
The Perth Scorcher slowly went about the rebuild, scoring 14 runs from her first 40 balls.
On her 41st delivery Mooney made a statement, stepping down the wicket to seamer Anya Shrubsole and lifting a six over mid-wicket. From there the left-hander was unstoppable, scoring 59 from her final 51 balls, with her straight hitting a feature.
Mooney was dismissed on the final ball of the innings by a spectacular catch by Lauren Winfield-Hill, who dived to her right and intercepted a lofted drive that was destined for the boundary.
Lanning was full of praise for Mooney’s knock of 73 from 91 balls – her 12th fifty in just 40 ODI innings – and for rookie Brown.
“I want to congratulate Beth Mooney for that innings which was the difference,” Lanning told Fox Cricket. “Everyone struggled but Mooney battled through and got us that matchwinning contribution.
“Darcie is great to have, she runs in hard and wants to bowl quick and goes like: ‘OK I will do whatever you want me to do.’“
The fresh-faced teen quick wasted little time setting the standard for her experienced teammates.
She struck twice in the fourth over, first disposing of Tammy Beaumont with the help of Lanning at first slip, before trapping Knight in front and with that, sent England’s hopes spiralling.
The Aussie young gun wasn’t about to stop there, though.
Brown’s athletic catch off her own bowling dismissed the well-set Nat Sciver (45) before claiming another LBW against Ecclestone. McGrath proved a willing accomplice, with her economy and ability to take key wickets swinging the momentum.
The Aussies now turn their attention to Sunday’s second ODI, where they have the chance to claim an outright series victory and bragging rights before the World Cup in March.
Additional reporting: Jasper Bruce
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