England collapse as Australia regain Women’s Ashes

England collapse as Australia regain Women’s Ashes: Australia’s women have regained the Ashes after beating England by 20 runs to win the second Twenty-20 at Hove on Friday. The victory gave Australia an unassailable 10-4 points lead in the multi-format series, which concludes with a T20 in Cardiff on Monday, effectively a dead rubber now.

England captain Charlotte Edwards elected to field after winning the toss and then saw her side restrict Australia to a seemingly meagre 107 for seven in 20 overs. But England in reply collapsed to 87 all out – their lowest score in a T20 international with recalled seamer Rene Farrell taking three for 17 to win the player-of-the-match award. Experienced England batsmen Edwards and Sarah Taylor both fell for eight and the hosts never recovered after two of their best players fell so cheaply.

Ellyse Perry and Farrell both took two wickets in an over as England were left reeling on 28 for five after their six-over power play. Katherine Brunt (20) and Lydia Greenway (26) did their best to revive England in front of a full house but when Brunt was dismissed there was no way back

England needed to win the second T20 of the seven-match series to keep their hopes of retaining the urn alive. Earlier Australia too had struggled to get any momentum and needed a cameo from Jess Cameron, who made 21 off 17 balls at the end of the innings.

The Aussies lost three wickets in 11 balls halfway through the innings, including captain Meg Lanning, who was one of two victims for Rebecca Grundy. Anya Shrubsole was the pick of England’s attack, bowling a consistent length at decent pace to pick up two for nine.

England came into this match with their confidence boosted by a seven-wicket win in the first Twenty20 at Chelmsford on Wednesday. Australia, the reigning 50-over and Twenty20 world champions, had previously won the one-off Test and two of the three one-day internationals. England knew they needed to win all three Twenty20 matches to level the overall score at 8-8 and retain the Ashes. But having done well in the field at, they panicked with the bat as Australia, well led by 23-year-old captain Meg Lanning, won their first Ashes in England since 2001.

Brief Scores: 

Australia Women – 107/7 (Jonassen 21; Shrubsole 2-9)

England Women – 87-10 (Greenway 26; Farell 3-17)