Australia retain Women's Ashes as sloppy England slip to another defeat
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Australia took an unassailable 8-0 lead with victory in the first T20 of the multi-format series in Sydney. Beth Mooney starred as Australia routed England by 57 runs in the first T20 international to retain the Ashes with the minimum of fuss. The hosts needed only 16 overs at the Sydney Cricket Ground to claim the two points they required to take an unassailable 8-0 lead in the series with Mooney's 75 the backbone of a challenging total of 198 for seven.
![[Australian leggies Georgia Wareham and Alana King put England in a spin]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/12/15/Georgia-Wareham-and-Alana-King.jpeg)
Heather Knight's side - who now have only pride for which to play in the remaining two T20 fixtures and the single Test match - were set a record-equalling target of 199 to stay alive, but despite the best efforts of Sophia Dunkley, who blasted a defiant 59, they never got close.
![[Heather Knight's side suffered a fourth consecutive defeat]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/12/26/Heather-Knight.jpeg)
England endured a dreadful start to their chase with openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge falling inside the opening seven balls with just four on the board. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Dunkley set about the task of rebuilding the innings with relish, the returning Dunkley hitting Kim Garth for three sixes in the fourth over as they reached 48 for two, only for Sciver-Brunt to be bowled for 20 by Alana King from the first ball of the fifth.
![[Beth Mooney played superbly after England had granted her a life]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/11/20-ae8ce15676cd4ced8f3ae4f993b70fe0.jpg)
England emerged from the power play three down - but with 62 runs to their name - and as Dunkley completed her 50 off just 24 balls and they reached the halfway point on 96 for three. Knight fell leg before for 18 attempting to reverse sweep King from the first ball after drinks and when McGrath bowled Dunkley for a 30-ball 59, the writing looked to be on the wall.
