England win third ODI to draw women’s Ashes thanks to Sciver-Brunt heroics | Women’s Ashes

The International Cricket Council’s press launch couldn’t have been higher timed: it landed at 3pm on Tuesday, halfway by way of England’s innings at Taunton, proclaiming that (for the primary time since September 2022) Nat Sciver-Brunt was sitting again atop the listing of main one-day worldwide all-rounders on the earth.

Twenty minutes later, she introduced up her second century in three days, and her fourth in her final 5 ODI innings in opposition to the almighty Australia. No girl has ever scored extra tons in opposition to them. The essential distinction from the previous three was that, ultimately, this one got here in a profitable trigger, as England bowled out the vacationers for 199 to seal a thumping 69-run victory by way of DLS.

Australia retain the Ashes by advantage of being holders of the trophy however, with the ultimate factors totalling 8-8 and England having received each the T20 and ODI legs of the sequence 2-1, Australia’s celebrations might really feel fairly hole.

Sciver-Brunt had headlined England’s whole of 285 for 9, surviving a fumbled caught-and-bowled from Tahlia McGrath when on 54 to stay unbeaten till the forty eighth over, when she was lastly caught within the deep making an attempt to slog one more six. She walked off to a standing ovation from the sellout Somerset crowd.

She had assist, after all: a vital partnership of 147 with Heather Knight – England’s highest for any wicket in ODIs in opposition to Australia – earlier than a bristling 43 from 25 balls by Danni Wyatt on the again finish propelled England above par. Then, with the ball, it was Kate Cross who made the important thing intervention, in two spells both aspect of a 55-minute rain delay.

In the primary, Cross despatched down a wobble-ball which moved off the pitch to take out Alyssa Healy’s center stump. Then, after Australia’s goal was adjusted to 269 from 44 overs, she despatched Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney packing in successive overs. Perry had smashed a six over long-on to deliver up a half-century shortly after the resumption, however despatched up a forefront to level 5 balls later. From there, it was throughout in a flash, as Australia misplaced their last 5 wickets for 79 runs – Sciver-Brunt chiming in with the ball to have Georgia Wareham stumped.

Earlier, after being put in, England had misplaced each Sophia Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont inside the opening 4 overs, earlier than the Sciver-Brunt and Knight partnership steadied English nerves. The pair introduced up their half-centuries inside seven balls of one another within the twenty fourth and twenty fifth overs; in between occasions, Knight struck Wareham for a candy six over long-on to deliver up the century stand, wanting extra comfy on the crease than she has accomplished for months.

Knight finally fell for 67, bowled by Alana King after swinging and lacking at a straight one, whereas Alice Capsey got here and went in a rush, sending one down the throat of Annabel Sutherland at long-on having added simply 5 to England’s whole. But Sciver-Brunt progressed calmly on, leg-glancing Tahlia McGrath for a boundary to take her to 99, earlier than clipping a single into the leg aspect to deliver up three figures, elevating her bat to the gang.

Wyatt then took on the Australia spinners, manufacturing a square drive from nowhere over the rope, before sweeping King for a second maximum five balls later, in an over that she and Sciver-Brunt collectively punished for 18 runs.

King had to leave the field soon afterwards, after failing to field cleanly a ball at short third which bounced up and hit her in the face. Ash Gardner (three for 39) and Jess Jonassen (three for 30) combined at the death to york Wyatt, see off Sciver-Brunt, and make further dents in the England lineup; but with 87 runs added in the last 10, it proved a bridge too far for a chastened Australia side.