Monday, July 27th, 2015

England Women Beaten At New Road In Ashes 50 Over Clash

England Women Beaten At New Road In Ashes 50 Over Clash

Australia took a four points to two lead in the Women's Ashes with victory over England by 89 runs in the third Royal London one-day International at New Road.

The match was played on its reserve day after rain prevented any play on Sunday, but Aussie captain Meg Lanning made up for lost time by scoring 85 in a total of 241 for seven.

Ellyse Perry added a rapid 67 and then took the first two wickets to make England's chase all the tougher, and they were bowled out for 152 in 43.1 overs.

England brought in Lauren Winfield, Jenny Gunn and Laura Marsh for Amy Jones, Rebecca Grundy and Kate Cross.

Gunn was called into action in the 12th over when, stationed on the deep mid wicket rope, she took the catch that ended Elyse Villani and Bolton's patient 25-run opening stand, the former departing for 14 off Georgia Elwiss' first ball of the series.

Lanning, a century-maker in her last outing at Bristol, shared in partnerships of 62 and 85 with Nicole Bolton and Perry respectively after England won the toss.

She had her fair share of good fortune, though, surviving an early run-out chance when Natalie Sciver's powerful throw from midwicket was too strong for Elwiss to grasp.

Bolton used 89 balls for her 40, departing after a build-up of pressure from tight bowling forced her to play a rash stroke that ended up in the hands of Marsh at mid-off off Sciver.

Alyssa Healy, promoted up the order to provide intent, then made 17 before hitting a return catch to Heather Knight.

Lanning, particularly strong down the ground, was handed a second reprieve on 45 as Lydia Greenway, at point, failed to hold a head-high chance off Katherine Brunt.

That life saw Lanning, alongside Perry, up the tempo and she moved to a 67-ball half-century.

She fell to the penultimate ball of the 45th over, holing out to long-on off Gunn, leaving Perry with the responsibility of posting a commanding total.

As fielding in the deep became sloppy and runs flowed, Perry reached her second fifty of the series off just 51 balls.

She was the first of three late wickets to fall, bowled by Gunn, while Jess Jonassen and Sarah Coyte were both run out.

England, in reply, were 10 for two after the early loss of captain Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor to Perry.

The run-out of Lauren Winfield made it 30 for three before Knight and Greenway began to rebuild.

They put on 42, Greenway improvising effectively with sweeps and reverse sweeps – but when Knight stepped across outside her off stump and attempted to swing Jonassen through the leg side, she was bowled around her legs for 38.

Brunt was promoted to number six and provided some big shots in a partnership of 53 with Greenway, who fell five short of a half-century when she edged Sarah Coyte to Jonassen at point.

A mix-up with Sciver saw Brunt run out and England's last five wickets fell for 23 runs, Kristen Beams removing Sciver, Elwiss and Anya Shrubsole for figures of 3-13.