England’s hopes of regaining the Women’s Ashes are hanging by a thread after suffering a heavy 86-run defeat by Australia in the third and final one-day international in Hobart.
The hosts slipped to 59-4 as England’s bowlers dominated the early stages, but Ash Gardner’s sparkling run-a-ball 102 and half-centuries from Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath led a sensational recovery to help them post 308-8.
England were braver and more proactive with the bat than in the previous two matches but none of their top order could match Gardner’s match-winning contribution, with four players passing 30 and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 61 the top score in their 222 all out.
Australia now hold a 6-0 lead in the points-based multi-format series and Heather Knight’s side must win all three T20s (worth two points each) and the Test match (worth four points) in order to regain the Ashes, as a drawn series would see them retained by the holders.
While England’s failure to chase 181 in the second ODI was a result of their own mistakes – unable to capitalise on a rare Australian off day – here was a timely reminder from the world champions of their class and staggering strength in depth.
Unbothered by more top-order failures, Gardner added a patient 95 for the fifth wicket with Mooney and 103 for the sixth with McGrath, who smashed 55 from 45 balls.
It was a perfectly-paced innings to set up Georgia Wareham, who was making her first appearance in the series in favour of seamer Darcie Brown, to finish the innings with a brutal 12-ball 38 as England conceded 104 from their final 10 overs.
England kept pace with Australia’s innings throughout their chase, with an achievable 120 required from the final 15 overs, but the final six wickets were blown away for 22 runs through a combination of sensational fielding and relentless accuracy with the ball.
The T20 series begins on Monday 20 January (08:40 GMT) at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
