Australia have retained the women’s Ashes after beating England in the second one-day international of the series in Southampton by a thrilling three runs.
Ellyse Perry rescued Australia on Sunday (local time), guiding them towards a total of 7-282 after an early batting collapse. That left England needing to pull off the second-highest chase in women’s ODI history – a challenge that proved beyond them despite a heroic century from Nat Sciver-Brunt at more than a run a ball.
The Australians celebrate their Ashes series win.Credit: Getty Images
Sciver-Brunt scored 111 not out from just 99 balls, taking the game down to the final ball for England before they finished on 7-279 – just three runs short of victory.
The multi-format series stood at six points apiece going into the game, with only one remaining 50-over contest left to play in Taunton. Australia needed to win only one of the last two games to retain the Ashes, but the momentum was with England after three successive victories.
Desperate to snap a three-game losing streak and seal the series win, Australia slumped to 2-27 and 4-102 early against a buoyant England team.
Australia’s spinners were the heroes of the England innings for the visitors, with Ashleigh Gardner and Alana King both claiming three wickets in the middle overs to set up the win.
But Perry was Australia’s real saviour, scoring a well-controlled 91 to salvage the Australian innings before perishing in the deep to Sophie Ecclestone in the dying overs.
Georgia Wareham then slammed 26 off the final over from Lauren Bell to set England a daunting target.
Ellyse Perry en route to 91 runs for Australia Credit: Getty Images
Perry had earlier formed part of a 56-run stand with Ashleigh Gardner, as well as adding 81 runs for the sixth wicket with Annabel Sutherland (50 off 47).
At times on Sunday it looked as if Australia were destined for their fourth straight loss.
Phoebe Litchfield was out in the second over when she was trapped lbw by Bell (3-85), before Alyssa Healy hit the seamer straight to short third on 13.
Australia celebrate the wicket of England batter Amy Jones.Credit: Getty Images
Beth Mooney was also out sweeping a ball down legside off Sophie Ecclestone, before Tahlia McGrath tried to cut legspinner Sophie Glenn and was caught behind for five.
At that stage, Australia were rolling towards a cheap score, but Perry ensured her side had something to bowl at, playing nicely down the ground and at one stage hitting Ecclestone for six back over her own head.
Australia’s veteran looked set for another hundred before she was out trying to take Ecclestone (3-40) on again before Sutherland fell in the same over after her maiden ODI half-century.
The final one-day international of the series will be played in Taunton on Tuesday.
The series uses a points system, with a Test victory worth four points (two points each in the event of a draw), and each ODI and T20 win worth two points (one point each if drawn).
Australia has won the Test, a one-day international and a T20, giving them an unassailable eight points.
AAP
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