England staged a stunning fightback to level the Women’s Ashes series with a thrilling victory in the second One-Day International (ODI) match against Australia. The win comes as a significant surprise, as Australia had won 41 out of their last 42 ODI matches. However, England’s three successive victories have shifted the momentum in their favor, leading to a renewed belief that they can upset the odds and snatch the Ashes from Australia.
Chasing a target of 264 runs, England achieved the victory with 11 balls to spare, thanks to an unbeaten knock of 75 runs off 86 balls from captain Heather Knight and a brilliant late cameo from Kate Cross. Australia had their share of luck as England dropped four catches and missed a stumping opportunity, which could have further tilted the game in England’s favor.
Beth Mooney was the top scorer for Australia with an unbeaten 81 runs, and she was given reprieves on 19 and 39. England’s six bowlers combined efforts to take wickets at regular intervals, but Australia’s ability to keep picking wickets meant the contest remained in the balance until the end.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat, capitalizing on the morning showers and overcast conditions. However, their decision didn’t bring favorable results as captain Alyssa Healy, who scored 170 against England in the 2022 World Cup final, fell for just 2 runs. England’s Kate Cross successfully reviewed an lbw decision, giving England a major breakthrough.
England missed an opportunity soon after as Ellyse Perry was dropped on 6 runs. Perry and Phoebe Litchfield punished any short deliveries, helping Australia reach 62 for 1 in the first 10 powerplay overs. Litchfield’s innings ended spectacularly when she attempted to hit her seventh boundary off Nat Sciver-Brunt’s bowling. Spinner Sophie Ecclestone made an incredible catch, stretching her left hand above her head to dismiss Litchfield.
Perry survived again when she was dropped on 36 runs by Sarah Glenn, but she couldn’t escape a third chance as Glenn took a catch off Sciver-Brunt’s bowling. England continued to drop catches as Tahlia McGrath was put down on 7 runs, and Beth Mooney was given another life after England’s Amy Jones missed a stumping opportunity.
Australia’s progress slowed down as they lost two wickets in three deliveries from Lauren Bell. Ashleigh Gardner was caught brilliantly by Natalie Sciver-Brunt at mid-wicket, while Annabel Sutherland lost her stump for a duck. Despite the wickets falling, Mooney and Jess Jonassen built a crucial partnership of 55 runs for the seventh wicket, setting a challenging target for England on a slow surface.
England’s innings started strongly, capitalizing on wayward bowling from Australia. The opening three overs saw more extras than the entire Australian innings, with England benefiting from two no-balls and ten wides. Despite losing Sophia Dunkley early on, Tammy Beaumont and Alice Capsey attacked Australia’s bowling, scoring at a rapid rate.
During the powerplay, Beaumont and Capsey added 84 runs, with Beaumont hitting a six to bring up her fifty. However, she soon holed out after making 47 runs. Capsey also fell for 40 runs, unable to resist poor shot selection. England’s middle order suffered a collapse as Australia tightened the screws.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt, and Amy Jones all fell cheaply, leaving England in a precarious position. Sophie Ecclestone provided a glimmer of hope with a cameo of 19 not out, including a stunning ramp shot, as she partnered with Heather Knight to guide England to victory.
In conclusion, England’s remarkable fightback, highlighted by Heather Knight’s captain’s innings and Kate Cross’s crucial contribution, has leveled the Women’s Ashes series against Australia. England’s belief in upsetting the odds has grown significantly, while Australia will need just one win to retain the Ashes. The momentum now favors England, and their victory in the second ODI adds to their back-to-back T20 wins, revitalizing their chances of claiming the Ashes.
