Australia retain Women’s Ashes after whirlwind knock by Mooney

Australia retained the multi-format Women’s Ashes by edging out England in a six-wicket win in the first Twenty20 International at the North Sydney Oval on Friday (November 17).

Despite going in with three spinners in Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen and Amanda-Jade Wellington, it was the Australian pacers that did the damage, getting early strikes to reduce England to 16 for 4 before keeping the ICC Women’s World Cup champions to 132 for 9.

Beth Mooney's innings of 86 not out off 56, with 11 fours and two sixes, the highest score by an Australian in a women's T20I in Australia, helped her side chase down the target in just 15.5 overs.

Put in, England lost Heather Knight, the captain, for nought, on the second ball. Knight was caught behind by Alyssa Healy off Jonassen.

Sarah Taylor followed her back in the next over, lbw to Megan Schutt for 2, leaving England at 4 for 2.

Elysse Perry then took two wickets in consecutive deliveries in the fourth over. She first had Tammy Beaumont, with Healy diving to her right to take a brilliant catch to send the opener back for 4, and Katherine Brunt for a golden duck the next ball, caught behind again, with England stuttering at 16 for 4.

Natalie Sciver, who was dropped by Jonassen in the third over, combined with Danielle Wyatt for a 64-run partnership for the fifth wicket, before Delissa Kimmince cut short the recovery, trapping Sciver leg before for 26.

Wyatt, though, continued to make merry, bringing up her maiden half-century off 35 deliveries with six boundaries. She threw away her wicket after a mix-up with Fran Wilson, and ran herself out; an accurate throw by Gardner went straight into Healy's gloves, and the wicketkeeper successfully whipped the bails off.

England lost three wickets in the last over with Wilson unbeaten on 23 off 22. Schutt was the star for Australia with 4 for 22.

In reply, Australia got off to a steady start, with Healy and Mooney stitching together a 30-run opening partnership, before Healy was caught by Wyatt at extra cover off Brunt for 5.

Mooney then shared a 47-run stand with Elyse Villani for the second wicket. Villani’s effort was short-lived after being sent back by Knight for a ten-ball 17.

Australia then lost Gardner (10) and Perry (1), but Mooney took charge to take her side home with Rachael Haynes unbeaten on 12.

Haynes, who admitted to nerves while watching her side complete the chase, said it came as “a bit of a relief” to seal their Ashes win. “It was just so nice for the team to play like that. We started really well with the ball (but) fell away a little bit. It was fantastic how Beth played, she really took control of that (innings),” the captain added.

Australia lead the series 8-4, with two T20Is yet to play.