Beth Mooney has guided Australia to inside one win of retaining the Ashes, however solely after surviving a mighty scare in a last-over Twenty20 win over England at Edgbaston.
Opener Mooney was at her sensible greatest, scoring an unbeaten 61 off 47 balls, to make sure that Australia managed to scrape dwelling by 4 wickets off the penultimate supply on Saturday, however solely after a nerve-racking last over within the Birmingham day-nighter.
Replying to England’s 7-153, Australia had largely been in management within the run chase and wanted simply 5 runs off the ultimate over, with the sport trying performed and dusted as Annabel Sutherland smashed the primary ball off Sophie Ecclestone straight for 4.
But needing simply the only to win, the subsequent two had been dots, earlier than Sutherland received caught off the fourth, attempting to slash excessive.
Georgia Wareham then entered, and although her hit off the penultimate ball was partially stopped at cowl, she and Mooney nonetheless managed to scamper the only that protected Australia’s proud document of not having misplaced an official T20 match for 2 years.
“We pride ourselves on finding ways to win games, and we found a way at the end there,” mentioned Australia’s captain Alyssa Healy.
“It was a great game of cricket to be a part of.”
Praising the evergreen 29-year-old Mooney, who as soon as once more paced her innings fantastically earlier than the shaky denouement, Healy mentioned: “That’s what makes her so good, she reads the situation very well and knows how to go through the gears – and she did that tonight.”
Earlier, Jess Jonassen had taken 3-25 together with her spin and Megan Schutt 2-33 together with her tempo to maintain the England whole down, earlier than Australia’s reply centred largely on Mooney because the anchor, with Tahlia McGrath cracking 40 off 29 balls and Test hero Ash Gardner making 31 off 23.
After profitable final week’s Test, Saturday night time’s slender victory means Australia want solely win one of many two remaining T20s or three ODIs to retain the Ashes as present holders.
With a 6-0 factors lead, two extra wins would imply they can even take victory within the multi-format collection.
“It’s huge,” Jonassen mentioned.
“Obviously the main goal after that Test match was to not let up. Make sure we came out in the T20s firing.
“We knew 6-0 sounded lots higher than 4-2. That was the purpose. It’s good to be slightly bit additional forward once more, however the job is not over but.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
