ENG W v AUS W, 1st T20I Review: A 6-wicket win helps Australia retain the Ashes

Australia Women defeated England Women by just six wickets as the hosts retained the Ashes after winning the first game itself. Beth Mooney played a wonderful knock of an unbeaten 86 runs off just 56 deliveries which helped her team seal the chase of 133 which never seemed to challenge Australia. However, Megan Schutt also bowled beautifully which helped the visitors restrict to a below-par total of 132.

Rachel Haynes, the skipper of Aussies, won the toss and opted to bowl first in North Sydney Oval. England had to win the first of the three-match T20 series to stay alive in the Ashes spread across three formats. But they got off to a worst possible start by losing 4 wickets for just 16 runs within five overs in the powerplay. Natalie Sciver and Daniel Wyatt then consolidated the innings and formed the partnership of 64 runs in almost eight overs. The latter was excellent in stroke making and looked fluent while she was in the middle.

Wyatt scored a magnificent half-century and was dismissed in the 16th over for 50 off just 36 balls. England somehow huffed and puffed their way to 132/9 in their stipulated 20 overs. Megan Schutt was the pick of the bowlers and returned with the figures of 4/22. She was well supported by Ellyse Perry who scalped two crucial wickets and conceded only 26 runs.

The flawless chase

Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney provided a decent start though the former was sent back into the dugout after making just five runs. The latter then took the control of the innings and launched an assault on the England bowlers. Elyse Villani assisted her well in a 47-run stand for the second wicket but it was all Mooney as far as the chase was concerned. A couple of quick wickets fell towards the end but Australia never looked in trouble courtesy a sensational knock from Mooney.

Eventually, they chased down the total with utter ease in the 16th over and fittingly Mooney scoring the winning runs. Se remained unbeaten on 86 and her knock was studded with 11 fours and a couple of magnificent sixes. England, simply never arrived on the day and apart from Wyatt, nobody fought really for the urn. Their four bowlers took a wicket each as Danielle Hazell was the most economical amongst them conceding only 14 runs off three overs for a wicket of Perry.

The remaining two T20 Internationals will be played on November 19 and 21 at Manuka Oval in Canberra as England, the champions in the format would look to win the series and take something away from this tour.

Brief Scores

England Women 132/9 after 20 overs (D Wyatt 50; M Schutt 4/22, E Perry 2/26)

Australia Women 134/4 after 15.5 overs (B Mooney 86*; D Hazelle 1/14)

Player of the match: Beth Mooney