england women gave an example of the exciting cricket they will be bringing to New Road next summer when winning the final it20 of the ashes series against australia.
the county are staging the opening royal london one-day international of the 2018 season against south africa at their headquarters on june 9.
england whetted the appetite of worcestershire supporters and members for that eagerly awaited contest with a superb four wicket win at the manuka oval.
they squared the ashes after an incredible partnership between danni wyatt and captain heather knight.
wyatt scored a remarkable 100 – her maiden international century – while knight weighed in with 51.
it was a record-breaking chase in women’s it20 cricket, beating the 165 england scored in 2009 to beat australia at the oval.
wyatt’s hundred was the second of the match after beth mooney’s.
mooney struck a superb hundred – the fifth in women’s it20 cricket and the first on australian soil – as australia posted 178/2.
it was a huge total that england looked unlikely to chase down at 30/3 in the fifth over but wyatt and knight combined to put on 139 to steer england towards the win.
the pair fell just short of the target but england got there with fran wilson and jenny gunn at the crease to win by four wickets.
it means the multi-format series ends tied up at 8-8 apiece. australia retained the ashes with their victory in the first it20 at the north sydney oval but tonight’s win means england win the it20 series and tie the rubber overall.
let’s hope for more of the same on june 9!
