The Ashes remain alive as Kate Cross and Heather Knight guide England to their third consecutive victory over Australia in the 1st ODI at Bristol.
It was another must-win game for England at a sold-out Bristol in the first ODI of the multi-format Ashes series. The home side made some bold changes from their last ODI XI back in December.
Wicket-taking threat, Charlie Dean was omitted with leg-spinner Sarah Glenn only playing her 10th ODI, her first since July 2021. Issy Wong couldn’t get a look in either with Kate Cross and Lauren Bell being preferred.
There were also changes in the Australia camp as Alana King and Kim Garth – who featured against Pakistan – made way for Georgia Wareham and Darcie Brown.
Australia win the toss and opted to bat, opening with a boundary from the first ball through the covers.
England headed upstairs early on as Kate Cross was convinced that she had trapped Aussie opener Healy, LBW. The full and straight delivery from Cross was going on to hit the stumps, England having a very quick breakthrough.
Australia were able to plough on as England’s bowlers lost some rhythm, Lauren Bell bowling wide of off stump and being punished with boundaries.
The partnership between Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield was broken as Sophie Ecclestone took what can only be described as a true specie catch – Litchfield attempting to strike the ball over the head of the fielder.
Perry was dropped for a second time, striking the ball over the head of the bowler and fumbled by Sarah Glenn, giving Perry yet another lifeline.
Glenn – coming back into the ODI side – removed the crucial wicket of Perry for 41 with a simple catch for Nat Sciver-Brunt to take. Dropped catches dominated the narrative as England’s fielding was poor and generous to Australia.
Off-spinner, Alice Capsey came into the attack, providing consistent line and length. That line deceived Tahlia McGrath as it was a flatter delivery which collided with the off-stump, giving Capsey her first ODI wicket.
The Aussies were handed chances by the English as catches continued to be dropped and a potential stumping was fumbled. Australia looked to capitalise off this with Ash Gardner demonstrating her intent, scoring three quick boundaries off Ecclestone.
The momentum shifted once again as Sciver-Brunt kept hold of an exceptional catch to dismiss Gardner for only 21. There was a second wicket in the over for Bell as she got swing on the ball to take out Annabel Sutherland’s off stump for a duck.
There were minimal boundaries in the final few overs and Ecclestone recovered to build pressure. Jonassen was bowled as Ecclestone continued to target the stumps.
The final over was productive as the sleepy crowd erupted with Danni Wyatt taking the catch off the bowling of Nat Sciver-Brunt to send the Aussies to 260/8. Beth Mooney remained, anchoring the innings and ending on 81*. Australia ended on 263/8.
Australia started very poorly with the ball and England soared with the bat. Although Sophia Dunkley went for 8, Tammy Beaumont and Alice Capsey found rhythm, holding a 74-run partnership from 56 balls.
Georgia Wareham into the attack, mesmerising Beaumont with her leg-spin, the opener falling short of her half-century. Similarly, Capsey was dismissed for 40 off the bowling of Gardner who piled on the pressure.
Sciver-Brunt’s half-an-hour innings saw her score 31 runs but it was Heather Knight and Danni Wyatt who had to steer the ship. The boundaries continued to flow as although Wyatt went for 14, Knight kept the run rate comfortable.
The momentum did start to shift as Amy Jones fell to a soft dismissal, placing England in some danger. But, Knight reached her half century and with a low required run-rate, it was a case of surviving rather than big run-scoring.
Matters worsened as England fell seven down, requiring 35 from 53 balls, well into England’s tail. Glenn was also dismissed quickly in a disappointing shot, directly to extra cover.
Cross scored back-to-back boundaries to aid England to only require 20 runs from the final five overs. The skipper led from the front as she pounded the ball into the stands, England requiring 12 runs to win.
Knight hit a boundary to guide her side to victory to keep the Ashes alive. Kate Cross was heroic in her batting performance and there were scenes of ecstasy as England were victorious.
England XI: Sophia Dunkley, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight ©, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones 9wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Kate Cross, Lauren Bell
Australia XI: Alyssa Healy © (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
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