With their superb batting, Australia came close to retaining the Women’s Ashes with an 86-run win over England in the third and final ODI.
Ashleigh Gardner’s blistering effort of 102 off as many balls helped the hosts rise to 308 in Hobart, leaving England 222 runs short in response.
England’s bowlers started the match strongly, with Lauren Bell taking the wicket of dangerous woman Ellyse Perry for just two runs and the hosts under pressure as they were 46 for 3.
However, half-centuries from Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath and a superb century from Gardner turned the tide of the match and ultimately set figures that England would find difficult to chase down.
The visitors’ turn in crisis got off to an unhelpful start with opener Maia Bouchier being sent off for a duck, but Tamsin Beaumont’s 54 and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 61 kept England’s hopes alive.
But that dream was quickly dashed. Danni Wyatt-Hodge made five for 200, quickly followed by Alice Capsey’s duck.
England managed just 21 runs from there, with the visitors needing to win the remaining three T20s and the Test match to reclaim the Ashes.
