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A key factor in this Australia team is their ability to deal with any adversity, by simply staying calm and working their way through the game. There is always a solution within this side.
Before the team walked out at the SCG, Australia were faced with the loss of two of their biggest inspirations, captain Alyssa Healy and star all-rounder Ash Gardner to injury. It was simply reframed as an opportunity for Georgia Voll and Grace Harris to help build the depth of an already impressive side.
Beth Mooney took the wicket keeper’s gloves in the absence of Healy, but really made her mark with the bat, hitting 75 runs after benefitting from sloppy fielding from England, with Amy Jones missing a straightforward opportunity behind the stumps and Nat Sciver-Brunt and Charlie Dean freezing in the field and leaving the chance of a catch.
Mooney stayed in and punished Australia, helped to set a strong target of 199 for England to chase. Within two overs, England were 0-2 and Australia looked ready to cruise to a simple win.
Sophia Dunkley came in at number three provided England’s singular resistance. Criticised at times at home for her inconsistency with the bat, she silenced any doubters with 59 runs including six fours and four sixes. Some will wonder why Dunkley wasn’t used in any ODIs. Dunkley’s wicket eventually came via Australia’s stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath who was masterful in her rotation of her bowlers, including herself.
Alana King celebrated her return to the T20 side with 2/14 and Georgia Wareham continued to impress in this Ashes series with 3/25. After the wicket of Dunkley, Amy Jones was left as England’s only recognised frontline batter who was dispatched for 12 runs and with it, England’s real hopes of not only staying in the game, but in this Ashes series.
It is going to a long and painful march for England to the Test at the MCG as they are not looking likely to get any win against this dominant Australia side who richly deserve to retain the Ashes.
England captain Heather Knight has one of the most challenging fixtures of her career on Thursday in the second Twenty20 of the series in Canberra, marshalling a side who are not only low on confidence and but completely without answers on how to stop this Australia side.
Australian players celebrate their win over England in their Women’s Ashes T20 cricket match in SydneyCredit: AP
An exceptional performance from Australia which is ended with the wicket of Lauren Bell who skies the ball, caught cleanly by Beth Mooney off the bowling of Annabel Sutherland.
After a disastrous start from England, there was some fighting resistance from Sophia Dunkley with 59, but ultimately it wasn’t enough for a side that have struggled with consistency throughout this series.
Australia win by 57 runs and England are still searching for a win as the Ashes stay in Australia.
Tahlia McGrath of Australia celebrates a wicket during game one of the Women’s Ashes T20 International series between Australia and England at Sydney Cricket GroundCredit: Getty Images
It’s raining wickets. Sarah Glenn is run out thanks to some brilliant fielding from Ellyse Perry, sprinting in from the boundary and Annabel Sutherland takes the bails off.
Everything is going wrong for England now.
England 9-141(after 15 overs)
Sophie Ecclestone could not be accused of playing it safe, after starting her innings with a massive six, she made 13 from just six runs.
But the spinner is caught cleanly by the Annabel Sutherland off Georgia Wareham’s bowling. You sense that is that from England in terms of comeback.
It will take a miracle from their tail end now.
Wareham gets another wicket with her final ball of the over, Charlie Dean edges the ball and Beth Mooney grasps it for a wicket.
England 8-139 (after 15 overs)
Sophia Dunkley of England walks off dejected after being dismissed by Tahlia McGrath of AustraliaCredit: Getty Images
Georgia Wareham gets the vital Amy Jones wicket, clean bowling the wicket keeper who is absolutely bamboozled by the spinner’s delivery.
After so much fight from Dunkley, England really face a big fight now to stay in this game.
It is not only a day, but a series for the leg spinners. Long may they thrive.
Sophie Ecclestone is into bat, far more known for his brilliance as a bowler, but she can hit the ball nicely.
England 6-116 (after 12 overs)
Australia celebrate another wicket.Credit: Getty Images
Sophia Dunkley’s biggest score in T20 is 61 and she looked a good bet to go past it tonight at the SCG, but she is bowled by Tahlia McGrath on 59.
A reminder, at one stage England were 0-2, then Dunkley came in and caused havoc for Australia.
An absolutely crucial wicket from the skipper who brings herself into the bowling at the perfect time.
England do not have the same batting depth as Australia, with Amy Jones being the next big threat.
England 5-109 (after 11 overs)
England’s Sophie Dunkley, right, bats in front of Australia’s Beth Mooney Credit: AP
There’s absolute silence at the SCG as Alana King goes upstairs for the review for LBW.
The umpire didn’t give it, but King was really confident about that delivery and was justified, with Heather Knight walking back to the pavilion.
A big wicket and King once again is inspiring Australia with the ball. Two wickets so far for King, can she get Dunkley next?
England 4-96 (after 10 overs)
England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt was bowled earlier for 20.Credit: AP
Sophia Dunkley gets her half century with 50 off just 24 balls.
Dunkley is proving a rather painful thorn in the side of Australia, hitting boundaries with ease, four sixes and five fours to be precise.
It’s been a masterful innings so far from Dunkley who is carrying England’s hopes on her back with her aggression.
Australia also have another headache, England’s captain Heather Knight is there and capable of a big total.
England fans must wonder why she wasn’t used in the ODI series.
England’s Sophie Dunkley piling on the runs.Credit: AP
England need an inspiration to stay in this series and Sophia Dunkley is providing it, fearlessly finding boundaries and looking really good on 38 runs from 16 runs.
The wicket of Dunkley is looking ever more prized as she is turbo charging this run chase.
Alana King comes incredibly close to getting an edge off the batter, but she is still there and still firing.
England 3-64 (after seven overs)
Incredible stuff, Alana King with her first ball, bowls out Nat Sciver-Brunt. Just as England were looking like staging a comeback who is there to ruin it? Who else but King.
After her heroics in the ODIs, King is back for her first T20 since 2023 and what a start for the spinner.
King can honestly do no wrong in this Ashes series.
It has been a strong start from England, with their run rate hovering over 11, so Australia desperately need to slow them down.
Australia 3-48 (after four overs)
England’s Dannielle Wyatt-Hodge is sent packing.Credit: AP
