After sealing series, Australia aim for a clean sweep in the ODIs

Overview

Australia Women vs England Women, 3rd ODIJunction Oval, Melbourne
February 8, 10:05 am Local

The series which started with three T20Is followed by a dramatic Test match, all came down to the three-match ODI series. Australia finally emerged victorious in the multi-format series after their win in the second ODI.

The home team looked to have an upper hand throughout the ODI series. England’s poor batting form continued in the ODIs costing them the Ashes trophy. They have continuously lost wickets in quick succession leading to a failed run chase in the first ODI followed by a poor batting display in the second contest. It has been England’s bowlers whose efforts have brought them back in the game at times but it takes a whole team to snatch victory from the opposition, and the England batters have failed to provide much contribution.

Now with the last match to be played at Melbourne, England have nothing to lose but to go all guns blazing for a victory. England batters would look to spend time in the middle and play with an authoritative approach, whereas there isn't much for the bowlers to do but to maintain the same momentum going into the final ODI.

Australia on the other side have been clinical with their team effort. The bowlers have picked wickets at the right time and the batters have also taken responsibility whenever needed. A brilliant knock of 73 from Beth Mooney in the first ODI had saved them from a collapse and Perry’s all-round performance in the second ODI was enough to seal the series for them.

Going into the final ODI the Australian top-order will look to play their part and give their team a good start setting up a template for a good finish from the middle-order batters. The medium-pacers in this series have also been exceptional. The Aussies will now look to clean sweep the ODI series and lift the Ashes trophy.

Remember last time

England, after losing the opening ODI in Canberra, were asked to bat first in the second match in Melbourne. Their poor batting form continued and England only managed to put 129 runs on the board. Sophie Ecclestone top-scored for England making a 65-ball 32.

In response, the England bowlers started pretty well and scalped two early wickets of Haynes and Lanning but Ellyse Perry starred with both bat and ball and sealed the series for Australia. She first took three wickets in the first innings, conceding only 12 runs in 7 overs and followed it with a match-winning knock of 40 in 64 balls. It only took a decent partnership towards the end between McGrath and Gardener, scoring 19 and 31 runs respectively to help Australia win the match by 5 wickets.

What they said

Meg Lanning (Australia captain): “I thought it was an outstanding effort from the bowlers, the pitch was better than what we saw. We'd have liked to finish better with the bat, but it was a good job. With Darcie rested, Perry got the chance to take the new ball and this is the best I have seen her in a long time. We haven't played the game to our full potential as yet, going into the next match and the World Cup, I'd like to see a perfect game from the girls.”

Heather Knight: (England captain): “The wicket was a bit slow, it wasn't easy, dried up later on the day, 200 would have been a good score on the board, hopefully, we'll learn from this ahead of the World Cup. We'll have to find a way to score runs, find the gap across the outfield and get some partnerships growing.”