Australia retains Women's Ashes as final-ball thriller stuns cricket world

Australia have retained the Women's Ashes with a heart-stopping three-run win over England in the second one-day international, after a stunning century from Nat Sciver-Brunt (111 not out) threatened to deny the Aussies. In the first final-ball finish of what has been a thrilling multi-format series, Australia thwarted an extraordinary Sciver-Brunt-inspired England as the home side fell just short of chasing down 283 for victory in Southampton. Needing 15 to win off Jess Jonassen's final over, Sciver-Brunt got the equation down to five runs off one ball in the most dramatic of climaxes.

However, Jonassen and the Aussies delivered when it mattered most, restricting the England centurion to a single as England finished agonisingly short of a miraculous victory on 7-279. Australia's spinners were the heroes for the visitors, with Ashleigh Gardner and Alana King both claiming three wickets after Ellyse Perry top-scored with 91.

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Georgia Wareham also provided a decisive late cameo with the bat, belting 26 runs off the final six balls from Lauren Bell to propel Australia onto what proved to be a match-winning target. The result means even a loss in the final ODI on Tuesday means Australia keeps hold of the Ashes for a fifth straight time, with a drawn series.

This triumph has been far from comfortable for an Aussie side that has been all-conquering in recent time. Nevertheless, the Australians got the job done in a match that failed to disappoint and left fans in a frenzy on social media.

Aussies 'really chuffed' to retain Ashes

It was a testament to the resolve of the Australians that they were able to regroup and see off the remarkable charge from Sciver-Brunt, to ensure the Ashes stays in Aussie hands. Australia still need victory in Tuesday's final ODI to claim the series outright, but some pressure is now off after this result.

"It's not a relief," captain Alyssa Healy insisted. "We still haven't played our best cricket yet, which is a bit scary at times. We are obviously really chuffed. We came here to win the Ashes, and we've retained them so far.

"There is still one game to go, and we'll be putting our best foot forward. But to know the Ashes are coming back with us is really exciting."

The win keeps Australia's record of holding every major trophy available to them, having not dropped one since the 2017 World Cup. The series looked for long stretches like it would go down to the final game, with Australia slumping to 2-27 and 4-102, before Perry dug them out of a hole alongside Ash Gardner (33) and Annabel Sutherland (50).

And at stages in the chase, England were in control. It took a great ball from King to bowl Tammy Beaumont on 60 and with England 2-107 after 21 overs, as the spinner pitched it on leg and hit the top of off.

And while King (3-44) and Gardner (3-54) struck again through the middle overs, England appeared on track for victory at 5-201 with 12 overs remaining. It was at that point Gardner stood up, having Amy Jones caught reverse-sweeping on 37 and removing Sophie Ecclestone lbw in the same over.

From there, Sciver-Brunt was always fighting up hill. And while her and Sarah Glenn (22no) got the equation down to nine off three balls and seven off two, England's incredible fightback to try and win back the Ashes was over.

"I thought we had it, Nat played an outstanding innings," England captain Heather Knight said. "It's been an outstanding series, the best series ever in women's cricket in my opinion."

with AAP

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