168/4 (19.1)
CR : 8.77
185/5 (20.0)
CR : 9.25
Australia Women won by 6 runs (DLS METHOD) π
Player of the Match
Tahlia McGrath
0/1848(35)
Over 20
England Women 168/4
Heather Knight43(19)
Amy Jones0(0)
Annabel Sutherland1-21(3.1)
AUSW won by 6 runs (DLS METHOD)
5:25 PM IST, 10:55 PM Local Time: Thatβs it. A thrilling end to the second T20I here at the Manuka Oval in the capital city of Australia. The rain forces the match officials to call off the game as Australia Women beat England Women by six runs on the DLS method. The visitors tried hard but it just wasn't to be as they remain winless in this year's Ashes.
Chasing a mammoth 186, England Women got off to a decent start. Danielle Wyatt-Hodge played beautiful strokes at the top of the order. She kept scoring at a brisk rate as the rain was approaching the Manuka Oval. Her partner Maia Bouchier struggled a bit and scored 13 off 14 before getting dismissed in the last over of the powerplay. In walked Sophia Dunkley at number three.
Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley kept their side ahead of the DLS par score as the drizzle arrived at the Manuka Oval. The Australian bowlers were a bit sloppy and England Women were ahead of the DLS par score when the rain halted the proceedings in Canberra. However, it was a short break as the action resumed soon after.
The duo of Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley continued their good work post the rain break. Wyatt-Hodge brought up her fifty off 36 balls. Megan Schutt bowled a magical 13th over and dismissed Wyatt-Hodge (52) and Dunkley (32) in a space of four balls. Nat Sciver-Brunt and skipper Heather Knight led the fightback for the English side.
The game went down the wire and England Women required 32 runs from 12 balls. Sciver-Brunt got cleaned up on 22 on the final ball of the penultimate over. With 22 required from the final over, Knight hit a boundary on the very first ball. Rain arrived and the umpires called for covers. Knight (43*) was furious with the decision as her side was six runs behind the DLS par score. The match officials unfortunately had to call off the game as the Southern Stars emerged victorious by six runs to go 10-0 up in the Ashes.
Earlier, Beth Mooney gave Australia Women a blazing start after they were asked to bat first. She played some magnificent strokes upfront as the hosts finished the powerplay on 54/1, with Georgia Voll (5) the only casualty. Mooney scored 44 off 31 before getting stumped in the eighth over.
Ellyse Perry (2) and Phoebe Litchfield (17) were dismissed in quick succession as spinners pulled back things for England Women. Annabel Sutherland (18) and skipper Tahlia McGrath put 39 between them for the fifth wicket which laid a foundation for a strong finish.
Grace Harris joined her skipper at the crease and both gave their side a perfect finish with a quickfire 35-ball 71-run stand. McGrath and Harris remained unbeaten on 48 and 35 respectively to power Australia Women to 185/5. Charlie Dean was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, registering figures of 2/28 in her four overs.
Chasing a mammoth 186, England Women got off to a decent start. Danielle Wyatt-Hodge played beautiful strokes at the top of the order. She kept scoring at a brisk rate as the rain was approaching the Manuka Oval. Her partner Maia Bouchier struggled a bit and scored 13 off 14 before getting dismissed in the last over of the powerplay. In walked Sophia Dunkley at number three.
Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley kept their side ahead of the DLS par score as the drizzle arrived at the Manuka Oval. The Australian bowlers were a bit sloppy and England Women were ahead of the DLS par score when the rain halted the proceedings in Canberra. However, it was a short break as the action resumed soon after.
The duo of Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley continued their good work post the rain break. Wyatt-Hodge brought up her fifty off 36 balls. Megan Schutt bowled a magical 13th over and dismissed Wyatt-Hodge (52) and Dunkley (32) in a space of four balls. Nat Sciver-Brunt and skipper Heather Knight led the fightback for the English side.
The game went down the wire and England Women required 32 runs from 12 balls. Sciver-Brunt got cleaned up on 22 on the final ball of the penultimate over. With 22 required from the final over, Knight hit a boundary on the very first ball. Rain arrived and the umpires called for covers. Knight (43*) was furious with the decision as her side was six runs behind the DLS par score. The match officials unfortunately had to call off the game as the Southern Stars emerged victorious by six runs to go 10-0 up in the Ashes.
Earlier, Beth Mooney gave Australia Women a blazing start after they were asked to bat first. She played some magnificent strokes upfront as the hosts finished the powerplay on 54/1, with Georgia Voll (5) the only casualty. Mooney scored 44 off 31 before getting stumped in the eighth over.
Ellyse Perry (2) and Phoebe Litchfield (17) were dismissed in quick succession as spinners pulled back things for England Women. Annabel Sutherland (18) and skipper Tahlia McGrath put 39 between them for the fifth wicket which laid a foundation for a strong finish.
Grace Harris joined her skipper at the crease and both gave their side a perfect finish with a quickfire 35-ball 71-run stand. McGrath and Harris remained unbeaten on 48 and 35 respectively to power Australia Women to 185/5. Charlie Dean was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, registering figures of 2/28 in her four overs.
Player of the Match: Tahlia McGrath
Tahlia McGrath (POTM and Australia Women Captain): "Yeah, it feels pretty nice. My heart rate has just settled down. Constantly looking at the radar. Constantly looking at the DLS score.
A complete team performance. Everyone played their role. Grace in the end showed her prowess and showed her capability. The bowlers did a fine job. Not easy to bowl in these conditions.
We had constant conversations with the players on the field and glad that it is over.
(On winning the Ashes) So pleased. To do it so early, very happy with it. Thank you very much."
A complete team performance. Everyone played their role. Grace in the end showed her prowess and showed her capability. The bowlers did a fine job. Not easy to bowl in these conditions.
We had constant conversations with the players on the field and glad that it is over.
(On winning the Ashes) So pleased. To do it so early, very happy with it. Thank you very much."
Heather Knight (England Women Captain): "Yeah, felt like it was a brilliant game of cricket. It reached the climax and it was a pretty tough job. It was a good wicket and I feel like we were in it for sure.
Danni was great at the start of the innings. Dunkley was also good at the start of that rain break. Unfortunately, we didnβt get across the line in the end.
We have had some real positives. They came out and took on the game from the word go but we did well to pull back things and restrict them."
Danni was great at the start of the innings. Dunkley was also good at the start of that rain break. Unfortunately, we didnβt get across the line in the end.
We have had some real positives. They came out and took on the game from the word go but we did well to pull back things and restrict them."
Phew!! What a contest we have just witnessed. England Women showed great fight but just couldn't get across the line. They remain winless in this year's Ashes. The action now shifts to Adelaide for the third T20I which will be played on Saturday. Do join us for that. For now, this is Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of Ninaad Dixit and scorer Manish Bishnoi. Until next time, cheers and good bye.