AUS-W vs ENG-W 2025, 1st T20I Review: Beth Mooney, bowlers help Australia retain Ashes

Australia retained the Women's Ashes with a convincing 57-run win in the first T20I in Sydney. They got off to a ferocious start as openers Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney went on the offensive from the get go before Lauren Bell sent the former back for 21 off 11. Her departure meant that only nine runs were scored off the final three overs in the powerplay as England tried to pull things back.

However, Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield stuck a partnership together. Litchfield played the second fiddle to Mooney before being caught short of her crease by Heather Knight. England then sent back Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland cheaply to put a leash on the hosts. A 17-ball boundary-less period was broken by Tahlia McGrath in the 15th over, with Sarah Glenn battered for 18 runs while 17 were scored off Bell's next over as Australia regained momentum.

However, Sophie Ecclestone got rid of McGrath briefly after and finished a fine spell by conceding only five runs in the penultimate over of the innings to restrict Australia to 198/7.

The visitors could got off to disastrous start in their chase as their openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge were back in the shed for ducks within the first two overs. However, England rallied back in the he subsequent two overs, with Sophia Dunkley and Nat Sciver-Brunt's aggressive strokeplay coming to the fore.

However, Alana King, playing her first T20I since Febraury 2023, struck timber as the dangerous Sciver-Brunt was dismissed for 20 off 12. Meanwhile, Dunkley brought up the joint-fastest T20I half-century by an Englishwoman, off just 24 deliveries, while Knight (18 off 20) sturggled at the other end before being dismissed by King.

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Dunklety kept England's hopes alive but once McGrath got her scalp, the hosts took total control over over their opponents as they succumbed tamely to their arch-rivals. Having won the ODIs via a 3-0 margin, Australia are now 1-0 up in the T20Is.