Women's Ashes: Australia rout England 3-0 in ODI series
Australia Women routed England 3-0 in the ODI series with an eight-wicket win in the third match. They conquered the Women's Ashes without a single defeat across all three formats. The Aussies won the three-match T20I series 1-0 before the one-off Test ended in a draw. This is the first time that Australia have won the Women's Ashes (multi-format) at home.
England were reduced to 19/2 after electing to bat first. Although Tammy Beaumont scored a half-century, Emma Lamb and Heather Knight recorded single-figure scores. Natalie Sciver smashed a valuable 46 (95). Charlotte Dean was the only other batter who scored in double figures. Annabel Sutherland took four wickets as England perished on 163. Meg Lanning (57*) and Ellyse Perry (31*) drove Australia to victory.
Skipper Meg Lanning led from the front in Australia's run-chase. She slammed her 17th half-century in One-Day Internationals. Lanning smashed 57* off 70 balls with the help of 7 fours and 1 six. In the series opener, Lanning had become the second-fastest to complete 4,000 runs in women's ODIs (89th innings). Former Australian cricketer Belinda Clark reached this landmark in her 86th ODI innings.
Lanning also finished most runs in the 2022 Women's Ashes. She racked up 254 runs from six innings. England's Heather Knight is just behind her on the tally with 253 runs. McGrath (225), Nat Sciver (204), and Beth Mooney (139) follow Knight.
All-rounder Tahlia McGrath was adjudged the Player of the Series. She took a solitary wicket for 23 runs in the third ODI. McGrath finished as the leading wicket-taker of the three-match series. She snapped up six wickets at an average of 10.17. The 26-year-old conceded just 61 runs in three games. McGrath recorded figures of 3/4 in the second ODI.
It was the seventh time in the past eight innings that England Women failed to bat for complete 50 overs. They were bowled out for 178 and 129 in the first and second ODI, respectively. England would want to improve ahead of the World Cup.
Fast bowler Annabel Sutherland was named the Player of the Match. She registered her career-best bowling figures in ODI cricket. The 20-year-old took four wickets for 31 runs in nine overs. Meanwhile, McGrath claimed her second consecutive Player of the Series award. She also starred in the series victory against India in 2021 (scored 121 runs and took four wickets).
