The mistakes that cost England in dramatic Women’s Ashes defeat
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Key errors in Melbourne mean tourists’ hopes of regaining the Ashes are slipping away as Australia now lead series 4-0. Copy link. twitter. facebook. whatsapp. The elation from the England camp as Australia’s batters departed one by one could not have been more different to the frustrated and lethargic look of England’s batters as they trudged back to the pavilion, wickets falling.
Bowling in tandem, Sophie Ecclestone and Alice Capsey took seven wickets between them in the second one-day international of this Women’s Ashes series in Melbourne. Ecclestone’s dismissals of Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney at the top of the order caused the Jenga tower to wobble. Capsey’s wickets proved equally as crucial – the core of Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner departing, leaving the tower to collapse. Bowling Australia out for 180, their lowest score in a one-day international at home since 2009, put England in a strong position to level the series, but their batting line-up fell short as the hosts won by 21 runs.
It was a thrilling match but England’s failure to capitalise on a winning position is becoming something of a familiar story. Here, Telegraph Sport looks at the key moments…. The big turning point was the fifth wicket. The smattering of England fans probably all had an inkling it would be over as Nat Sciver-Brunt chipped the ball up for Beth Mooney to do some catching practice. It meant England sunk to 84 for five at the 23-over mark. In comparison, Australia’s fifth wicket fell in the 29th over when they had already put 149 on the board.
