The Ashes is a series of five Test cricket matches contested annually by England and Australia between the two countries. For the first time in history, this final day of play saw both teams tied at 1-1.
The “Women’s Ashes 2021/22” is a cricket competition that will be played between England and Australia. The two teams have drawn the final Test of the series in an incredible finale, with England winning by just one run.
11th place Kate Cross bowled the last over as England drew a thrilling Test match.
| One-off Test, Women’s Ashes, Manuka Oval (day four of four) |
| Australia 337-9 dec & 216-7 dec Mooney 63; Brunt 3-24 |
| England 297 & 245-9 Sciver 58, Knight 48, Dunkley 45; Sutherland 3-69 |
| Match ends in a tie (Australia lead series 6-4) |
| Scorecard |
In one of cricket’s most spectacular endings, England and Australia drew the one-off Women’s Ashes Test in Canberra.
With seven wickets remaining, England needed 45 runs from 60 balls to win by a record margin of 257 runs.
However, as the tensions rose, England lost six wickets for only 26 runs, allowing Australia to close in on a victory that would have given them the Ashes back.
When two wickets fell in the final three overs, England went into survival mode in an effort to save the series.
11th place As England fell 12 runs short of their goal, Kate Cross faced 12 balls in the last over, blocking out the final over, ensuring that the four points on offer for the Test were shared.
Only because Australia declared on 216-7 half an hour before tea, leaving England with 48 overs to complete their goal, was the finale feasible.
As a consequence, Australia now leads the multi-format points-based series 6-4. To retain the Ashes, they simply need to win one of the three one-day internationals that follow.
On Thursday, the first One-Day International (ODI) commences at 03:10 GMT at Manuka Oval.
Table of Contents
One of cricket’s finest endings was seen in Canberra.
Surprisingly, both sets of players will most likely leave the field unsatisfied in the end. Both teams had a chance to win a game that defied belief.
If England had won, it would have been the most successful chase in women’s Test cricket history – and they started by making a massively tough assignment appear pretty simple.
But all-rounder Nat Sciver hit square leg for 58, and the momentum shifted as the pressure shifted, with England suddenly feeling the heat of being favorites.
Australia had turned to defensive bowling and field placements, but a world-class squad suddenly scented their chance.
Beth Mooney, who was playing with metal plates in her jaw after breaking it two weeks ago, took a superb diving catch at long-on to remove Sophia Dunkley, who had moved England within 24 runs of their goal with a 45-ball 45.
As fear gripped the England camp, debutant leg-spinner Alana King and seamer Annabel Sutherland, playing her second Test, took advantage, with Anya Shrubsole’s desperation run-out adding to the extraordinary drama.
England had been aiming for victory up until that moment, but with 14 balls left, Cross stepped out only for defense, facing 12 of 13 balls in a last-wicket combination with Sophie Ecclestone.
Surrounded by catchers, Cross held her calm to negotiate King’s last over, ensuring the series would continue at least one more game, but England may rue their inability to win.
Australia just embarked on a 26-match winning streak in 50-over cricket, and Heather Knight’s team will most likely have to defeat them three times in a row to win the Ashes.
Following the match, Ecclestone (second left) and Brunt (rear right) looked disappointed in the England dugout.
How the conclusion came to be
- With 10 overs remaining, England are 212-3, needing 45 more runs to win. Sophia Dunkley has hit back-to-back sixes, while Nat Sciver is unbeaten on 52.
- Sciver pulls a straight pull to square leg off Annabel Sutherland in 40.3 overs, needing 39 runs from 43 balls.
- Sutherland and Alana King restrict the score in 42.2 overs before Amy Jones smashes to deep mid-wicket for four. England must score 33 runs in 34 balls.
- 43.2 overs: England’s hopes are dashed as Dunkley, 23, is beautifully caught at long-on by Beth Mooney for a 32-ball 45. To win, England needs 24 runs from 28 balls, whereas Australia just needs four wickets.
- 44.1 overs: Katherine Brunt top-edges a Sutherland pull – England need 21 from 24 balls, which is still doable, but they only have three wickets left.
- England need 13 runs from 15 balls in 45.4 overs, but Anya Shrubsole is run out inches short at the non-end striker’s while attempting to swipe a single.
- 45.5 overs: Charlie Dean top-edges a sweep for three and is caught, sending number 11 Kate Cross to the crease.
- Cross bowls seven consecutive deliveries in the 47th over to take the game to the last over. England need a total of 12. One wicket is required for Australia.
- Cross defends the last ball, a full toss from King, and an extraordinary Test is drawn after 48 overs.
What else occurred in the last day?
Australia captain Meg Lanning deserves credit for her declaration, which dangled the potential of a win in front of England and compelled them to take on the victory challenge.
England got off to a good start, with openers Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield-Hill putting up 52 before falling for 36 and 33, respectively, with Beaumont being the more aggressive of the two.
Knight and Sciver delivered the meat of the chase, scoring 72 runs off 70 balls while maintaining the needed run rate.
The loss of Knight, who had struck 168 not out in the first innings, went out lbw to a nipped back ball from 18-year-old seamer Darcie Brown, was a vital moment. England continued to hunt a victory even after she was dismissed, but her cool demeanor was missing.
Australia led by 52 points at the start of the day, and England hoped to dismiss their hosts and set a lesser goal for themselves.
They were hampered by consistent contributions from Australia’s batting order – Mooney top-scored with 63 – and were not helped by two dropped catches and a failed stumping by wicketkeeper Jones, including Mooney when he was on 40.
What will be remembered in the end, though, is the tense last hour. It was the sixth time in a row that a women’s Test was drawn, perhaps reinforcing demands for such matches to be played over five days rather than four.
However, none of the prior drawings had been as thrilling as this one.
‘Opportunity squandered’ is the reply.
“All the emotions,” says Australia skipper Meg Lanning. We proclaimed that although we didn’t believe it would be enough to knock them out, it was our goal. They batted quite effectively, and it was difficult to keep them from scoring.
“I did think about the fact that we were done. They were taking it slow, and there seemed to be no way out.
“It was very fantastic to be able to fight back as a group and almost turn it on its head.”
“The overarching emotion is opportunity lost,” says England captain Heather Knight. We were in a fantastic situation. I was quite pleased with how we approached the game. I’m just annoyed.
“It’s been a fantastic Test. Throughout the game, we competed head-to-head with the Australians. It would have been a huge victory.”
Related Tags
- women’s ashes 2017
- ashes
