England continue winless Ashes run as Australia edge rain-affected second T20
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Australia withstood a late England charge to claim outright victory in the Ashes as they earned a six-run win on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern in a rain-affected second T20 clash. Beth Mooney put Australia in a strong position with 44 runs and although England took wickets through spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean, the hosts overcame their mid-innings wobble with a valuable 48 from stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath and 35 from Grace Harris.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge posted 52 in response to the 186-run target and captain Heather Knight threatened an explosive finish by smashing an unbeaten 43 from 19 balls. But with five balls left and England needing 18 runs – and sitting narrowly behind on the DLS calculation – the players were brought off for a second time due to rain and Australia sealed an outright Ashes victory, taking a 10-0 series lead.
Australia were sent into bat first and opener Georgia Voll was the first to fall with a run-out, but Mooney put the hosts in the driving seat with a brilliant 44 off 31 balls. Ecclestone then broke her stride as the wicketkeeper-batter was caught out of her crease by her counterpart Amy Jones, who quickly removed the bails.
Spin proved to be the solution again in a productive 10th over when Ellyse Perry lofted Charlie Dean’s delivery to Maia Bouchier at point and Dean struck two balls later, hitting Phoebe Litchfield’s middle stump after the batter attempted a sweep shot.
