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England find themselves 6-0 down in the Women’s Ashes and in dire need of a victory.
Australia host England in the first T20I of the series after whitewashing the away side in the ODIs last week. England must win today to keep their Ashes hopes alive, while victory for Australia seals yet another retention of the urn – their sixth in a row.
England were well and truly out-played by a brilliant Australian team. They have been far and away from their best, with batting collapses, poor fielding and leaking runs, but Australia made sure to punish those mistakes in efficient fashion.
Australia now lead 8-0 and with a maximum of eight points remaining, the home side have an unassailable lead.
However, there is still much to play for. England will hope to both turn around this T20I series, claiming a 2-1 victory and also win the Test – having not done so since 2013/14.
Australia, on the other hand, will look to continue their dominance and embarrassingly whitewash the old enemy. The biggest defeat in The Women’s Ashes (since the restructuring in 2013) is 12-4, by Australia in 2019 and 2021/22 and England in 2013/14.
And there we have it. Australia retain the urn for yet another cycle.
Freya Kemp sends the ball into the dark sky above the SCG and fittingly, Beth Mooney takes the catch.
England last held The Ashes in 2013/14 and they’ll have to wait two years to make amends.
Sarah Glenn is run out without facing and Australia require just one wicket to retain the Women’s Ashes for the sixth time in a row.
Ecclestone’s cameo comes to an end as she picks out Annabel Sutherland at long-on, giving Wareham her second of the match.
Just a few balls later she gets another as Dean looks to sweep. The ball loops up off the top edge for a simple catch.
England are 139-8 with five overs remaining. The 60 they require seems a long way off now.
England lose their third wicket in as many overs as Amy Jones gets done by some low bounce from Georgia Wareham. Australia are into the tail now but that doesn’t stop Sophie Ecclestone from carving one through backward point.
This could be the crucial moment in the 2025 Women’s Ashes.
Full and straight from Tahlia McGrath is enough to dismiss Sophia Dunkley. She is applauded off the pitch after a magnificent innings.
The key wicket!
Sophia Dunkley departs for an entertaining 59, England five down #Ashes pic.twitter.com/lVzBgXhNSX
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 20, 2025
Having originally been given not out, Alana King’s LBW appeal is overturned by the third umpire. Heather Knight looked to reverse sweep and Hawkeye showed it crashing into leg stump.
A critical blow to England’s chances…
103-4 off 11
A slower ball dug into the pitch allows Sophia Duckley to pivot and rotate the strike, bringing up her fifty.
Her half-century came from just 24 balls. Only Deandra Dottin has a faster fifty against Australia. She smashed her’s off 22 balls back in 2009.
England’s rate continued to peak above what was required after two beautiful cover drives from Duckley made their way to the rope.
Sophia Dunkley heaves, slashes and powers Sutherland for 12 off the next over. She doesn’t offer any clear-cut chances but there were a few wide-eye moments for the batter.
Tahlia McGrath turns to her mystery spinner now and what a decision it turns out to be. Alana King bowls Nat Sciver-Brunt first ball.
England’s vice-captain looked to pull through legside but misjudged the length.
Knight sees out the over and allows King the incredible feat of a wicket maiden.
The change to spin does the trick!
Alana King strikes with her first delivery #Ashes pic.twitter.com/5gDKF2FODn
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 20, 2025
Sciver-Brunt seems to have settled now, punishing Schutt for three boundaries through the legside, each’s timing better than the one before.
Dunkley follows suit, launching Garth for back-to-back maximums over deep mid-wicket before shuffling to the legside and slashing a good length ball through point.
She finishes the over off with another six over the leg side, moving her onto 26.
England’s luck continues as Kim Garth knicks off Danni Wyatt-Hodge first ball. The thick edge flys to Litchfield in the slip cordon and yet again the sense of helplessness seemed to fill England fans (this could be a running theme).
Sciver-Brunt managed to pick up two boundaries from the over, but both coming off the outside edge and only narrowly avoiding both the slip and short third-man.
Having dropped the first ball at her feet with great technique, Maia Boucher picks out Georgia Wareham at cow corner to fall for a two-ball duck.
Just three balls later there was another heart-in-mouth moment as Dunkley looked like she copied her predecessor but the ball evaded Wareham this time and she picked up a boundary.
The Australians finish on 198-7 thanks to a brilliantly paced 75 from Beth Mooney. The opener was ably partnered throughout as Georgia Voll, Pheobe Litchfield and Tahlia McGrath all contributed with quick-fire 20s.
This total requires England to complete the joint second-highest successful chase in Women’s T20I history. With England’s struggles in the ODIs, it seems unlikely they’ll be able to overcome the Australians but they’re going to have to go hard from the outset. Either way, this could be crazy.
Amy Jones is up to the stumps off the bowling of Freya Kemp and her fast glovework sends Mooney packing but the Australian leaves the field having put her side into the driver’s seat.
Australia are 178-6 with two overs remaining.
Sophie Ecclestone bowls the dangerous Tahlia McGrath as she looks to force another ball over mid-wicket. The stand-in skipper did her job, smashing 26 off 9 but fell to the guile of Ecclestone.
Mooney continues on 75 off 50 and is joined at the crease by Grace Harris.
England’s attack leader returns but is unable to contain the Australian duo as they pass 150 with 4.2 overs left in the innings.
Mooney hits Bell for three boundaries through the leg side before giving herself some room and carving the final ball past point.
157-4 after 16 overs.
The Australian captain takes a liking to Glenn’s spin, taking her for two fours and a six during her first over at the crease.
She sweeps and cuts to the boundary before launching the ball for six over cow corner with a monstrous hit.
Annabel Sutherland only lasts four balls as she is caught in the deep off the bowling of Charlie Dean. She looks to power the ball over mid-wicket but doesn’t quite connect leaving a simple catch in the deep for Wyatt-Hodge.
A looping leg spinner from Sarah Glenn tempts Perry down the pitch but it grips and beats the outside edge, leaving the all-rounder short of her crease. Perry departs for seven.
Just a whisker in it!
But Perry's short knock ends, out stumped #Ashes pic.twitter.com/6VigQYmRea
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 20, 2025
In the absence of her opening partner, Beth Mooney has stood up and taken on the challenge. She took her time to get going but her fifty comes off 37 balls and leaves Australia in prime position.
There’s the breakthrough!
Knight leads by example with an inch-perfect throw from the covers to get rid of the dangerous Litchfield. Whatever the skipper said in that huddle must have been so inspirational that she inspired herself.
Despite the wicket, Australia continue to steamroll England’s bowling attack. First Mooney carved Sciver-Brunt through point before Ellyse Perry attacked down the ground.
Neither Ecclestone nor Dean can slow the Australians’ flow as they reach 90-1 at the halfway stage.
England have time for a little breather but only enough for a few words from Knight, who must now rally her troops before it’s too late.
Will Sarah Glenn’s wrist spin be the point of difference England so desperately need? Seemingly not.
First Litchfield pumps the leggie through the covers before a remarkable switch-hit flies to the same boundary next ball, this time for six.
Things then go from bad to worse for England as the left-hander chips the ball towards wide mid-off but Dean and Sciver-Brunt both say “yours” and the ball lands safely.