A record crowd for a women’s bilateral series in England was set as the Oval attracted 20,328 spectators to see England secure their first win of the Ashes series, beating Australia by 3 runs.
England made once change to their XI, swapping Freya Davies for Charlie Dean, the skipper referencing that Nat Sciver-Brunt was now able to bowl her full allocation after suffering from a knee injury. The Aussies, given their success, remained unchanged.
Australia, once again, won the toss – this time electing to bowl first with young South Australian Darcie Brown, opening the bowing.
To keep the Ashes alive, this was a must win game for England. The hosts were 6-0 down ahead of the 2nd T20 against a team who have only lost a few white ball games in the past two years.
England were 24/0 as Sophia Dunkley top edged the ball into the air, the catch seeming inevitable, but Tahlia McGrath put down the regulation piece of fielding, relieving the partisan crowd.
The home support was apparent, and England continued to dominate after the powerplay and showed their clear intent and aggression.
Once again, the delivery was short, outside the off stump and Dunkley repeated her previous error – this time McGrath managed to keep hold of the ball, despite some juggling.
Danni Wyatt and Nat Sciver-Brunt built off the groundwork in the powerplay, keeping the runs ticking, reaching 100 in the 12th over.
It wasn’t to last as Australia’s leading wicket taker in the Ashes, Ash Gardner dismissed Sciver-Brunt for 23. Homegrown Surrey star, Alice Capsey, came to the crease with the ambition to entertain at her local ground.
Australia tightened in the field and started to slow England down, Capsey falling quickly for 5, taking England to 109/3. It was two in two for Annabel Sutherland as she sent the English skipper, Heather Knight, back to the pavilion for a duck in her 100th T20 appearance for England.
England desperately required Amy Jones to rebuild the innings for England, but the game seemed to turn on its head. A spectacular diving catch by the ever-present Sutherland saw the end of Jones as England slipped to 112/5.
Dani Gibson headed to the middle, burdened with saving the game for the hosts in what was only her second outing in an England shirt. The Oval applauded in a standing ovation as Wyatt brought up her half-century – her 12th in IT20s.
It was a true English collapse as Gibson departed for one and the side were crumbling at the hands of Australia.
Danni Wyatt had her day to star with the bat, scoring 76. The crowd stood to respect Wyatt’s knock as she was removed by Sutherland – taking her third wicket.
The voice of third umpire Sue Redfern dictated a close call on a potential run out, eventually being deemed not out to the frustration of the Aussies. England accelerated in the final overs – a necessary move if they wanted to post a competitive total. Sophie Ecclestone stood out, finding three consecutive boundaries.
England finished their 20 overs on 185/9 with a run out from the final ball.
As expected, the Aussies got off to a flying start, Alyssa Healy quickly sending one over the rope. Mooney followed suit sending the ball into the stands for a crowd catch.
Leggie, Sarah Glenn, had the big breakthrough for England bowling Alyssa Healy, rattling middle stump. Perhaps the damage had already been done with Healy’s cameo producing 37 from only 19 balls.
Charlie Dean was piled on by her teammates as, she fielded the ball, and thinking quickly threw that ball into the gloves of Amy Jones – while still on her knees – to spectacularly run out Tahlia McGrath.
Dani Gibson registered her first international wicket – Beth Mooney – while Sophie Ecclestone quickly followed, taking her 100th IT20 wicket age 24. With Ecclestone’s inevitable wicket, Australia slumped to 75/4.
The Aussies started to fight back with a few impressive boundaries, but Dean silenced them as she deceived Grace Harris, bowling her for 9. The run rate was rising as Glenn came back into the attack.
A half-hearted appeal went upstairs, which showed a spike as the ball apparently made contact with the bat. However, it was deemed not out, despite Ellyse Perry herself, almost back to the pavilion.
There were intermittent boundaries and wickets as Sutherland chipped one straight to the England skipper so send the Aussies 6 wickets down. There was hope for Australia, but England were inching closer to their first Ashes match win.
Georgia Wareham moved to the next gear as she stuck consecutive sixes off the bowling of Dean, leaving the Oval stunned. Heading into the penultimate over, Australia required 31 runs with Lauren Bell bowling what was perhaps the most important over of her career.
Bell caused the ground to erupt as she sent Wareham’s bails flying, enhancing England’s chances. 20 runs were the target for the Aussies with only 6 balls remaining. A consultation between the skipper and her bowlers assigned the world’s number one, Sophie Ecclestone, to take the ball.
It only took Ecclestone’s second ball to have an impact and despite two consecutive sixes, England secured the 3-run victory, keeping the Ashes alive. England broke Australia' winning IT20 streak, the last game they won being in March 2021.
England XI: Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt, Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight ©, Amy Jones (wk), Dani Gibson, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Charlie Dean, Lauren Bell
Australia XI: Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy © (wk), Tahlia McGrath, Ash Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
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