Review: Australia claim first-ever Women's Ashes whitewash after annihilating England in Melbourne Test
Australia completed a historic whitewash over England as they won the one-off Test match in Melbourne by an innings and 122 runs.
The one-off Test between Australia Women (AUS-W) and England Women (ENG-W) concluded on Saturday, February 1, at the renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Alyssa Healy and Co. emerged victorious inside three days to end England's miserable tour Down Under.
As a result, Australia became the first team to complete a whitewash in the Women's Ashes as they had already won the ODI and T20I series by identical 3-0 margins, last month.
The hosts started Day 3 at 422/5, having already taken a lead of 252 runs. Beth Mooney, who was stranded on 98, brought up her century before being dismissed for 106 by Lauren Filer. Australia were bowled out for 440 as Sophie Ecclestone finished with a five-for.
England needed to score 271 in their second innings to make Australia bat again. After Maia Bouchier departed in the fourth over, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight stitched a 73-run stand, showing good resilience. However, in the second session, Australia's spin duo of Ashleigh Gardner and Alana Kings bamboozled the England batters with their incredible crafts.
Gardner broke the partnership between Knight and Beaumont as she dismissed the former for 32. King joined the party a few overs later when she bowled Beaumont out for 47.
England women fell like deck of cards after decent start against Australia
The middle-order batters looked all at sea against the Australian spinners. From 79/1, the tourists were bowled out for 148. The tailenders showed a lot of fight, especially the pair of Lauren Filer and Lauren Bell, who batted 68 balls together to delay the inevitable.
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King took the last wicket of Filer to finish with figures of 5/53 in 23.4 overs. Meanwhile, Gardner bagged four wickets, conceding just 39 runs in 25 overs. Darcie Brown also chipped in with the solitary wicket of Bouchier.
Annabel Sutherland was named the Player of the Match for her brilliant knock of 163 off 258 balls. Meanwhile, King won the Player of the Series award after she finished as the highest wicket-taker in the ODIs as well as the one-off Test.
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