Women’S Ashes: Sciver-Brunt’s hundred helps England end Women’s Ashes all square | Cricket News – Times of India

England emerged victorious against Australia by 69 runs in the third one-day international in a thrilling encounter at Taunton, levelling the multi-format Women’s Ashes at 8-8.
The win, achieved under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method due to rain interruption, marked Australia’s first bilateral ODI series defeat since 2013, showcasing England’s progress in closing the gap between the two teams.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, the star of the match, scored a magnificent 129, marking her second hundred against Australia in three days. Her heroic knock, following an unbeaten 111 in the previous match, set the foundation for England’s total of 285/9.
Australia, the world champions in both ODI and Twenty20 cricket, faced a revised target of 269 from 44 overs after the rain delay. However, England’s formidable bowling attack, led by Kate Cross who took 3-48, proved too much for the visitors as they were dismissed for 199.
Despite the victory, Australia had already secured the Ashes at 8-6 before the match, having won the solitary Test of the series. England, on the other hand, made a remarkable comeback after being 6-0 down, clinching four out of seven matches and both white-ball series.
Reflecting on the series, Kate Cross said, “We definitely think we’re closing the gap to Australia… it doesn’t really feel fair that it’s going back to Australia.”

Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was instrumental in the win, expressed her satisfaction with the performance. “I tried to take it ball by ball today. I came in some pretty tough conditions after they’d got two quick wickets,” said the talented all-rounder.
Ashleigh Gardner of Australia acknowledged England’s superior performance, admitting, “England have outplayed us, and played a fearless brand of cricket, and it is something we should look at.”
England’s innings faced an early setback with the loss of openers Sophia Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont for just 12 runs. However, a brilliant partnership of 147 runs between captain Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt steadied the innings. Knight contributed with 67 runs before being bowled by leg-spinner Alana King.
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s sensational century, comprising 11 fours and a six, was met with huge applause from the home crowd. She eventually fell to Jess Jonassen after a stellar 126-ball knock.
In response, Australia lost early wickets, with captain Alyssa Healy falling to Kate Cross. A rain break further complicated Australia’s chase, and despite a valiant effort from Ellyse Perry (53), they couldn’t reach the revised target. The match was sealed by England’s excellent fielding, with a crucial stumping by Amy Jones dismissing Gardner and all but securing England’s victory.
Despite England’s impressive comeback in the series, they narrowly missed out on reclaiming the Ashes from Australia’s grasp for the first time since 2014. England captain Heather Knight proposed adjustments to the points system in future series to prevent a drawn series, stating, “Maybe there could be an odd number of points for something so there couldn’t be a draw. I’m not too sure.”
(With inputs from AFP)