Women’s Ashes 2023: The first two T20 matches of the Women’s Ashes 2023 have been played, with Australia winning the first match by 4 wickets and England winning the second match by 3 runs.
The first match was played at Edgbaston on July 1, 2023. Australia batted first and scored 153-6 in their 20 overs. Beth Mooney top-scored for Australia with 61 runs off 49 balls. England’s bowlers were led by Katherine Brunt, who took 2-20.
In reply, England were in trouble at 39-3 in the 10th over, but Danni Wyatt and Heather Knight led a recovery with a 71-run partnership. Wyatt scored 76 off 54 balls, while Knight made 37 off 33 balls. England eventually reached 154-7 in their 20 overs.
The second match was played at Kennington Oval on July 5, 2023. England batted first and scored 157-6 in their 20 overs. Wyatt top-scored for England again with 68 off 48 balls. Australia’s bowlers were led by Jess Jonassen, who took 2-26.
In reply, Australia were in trouble at 39-3 in the 10th over, but Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning led a recovery with a 74-run partnership. Healy scored 52 off 38 balls, while Lanning made 32 off 27 balls. Australia eventually reached 154-6 in their 20 overs.
Also Read: Wimbledon 2023 Day 3: Djokovic, Swiatek Advance; Sakkari Out.
Women’s Ashes 2023: Here are some of the key takeaways from the first two T20 matches:
- Annabel Sutherland scored an unbeaten 137* in the one-off Test, becoming the youngest woman ever to score a century in an Ashes Test. Her innings was filled with elegance, power, and composure, and she set a new record for the highest score by a No. 8 batter in Australian women’s Test history.
- Sophie Ecclestone took 10 wickets for 192 in the one-off Test, becoming just the tenth woman cricketer to take a 10-wicket haul in a Test. Her bowling was outstanding, and she was unlucky to end up on the losing side.
- Ellyse Perry scored 99 runs in the first innings of the one-off Test, and she was also impressive with the ball, taking 3 wickets. Perry is one of the all-time greats of women’s cricket, and she showed in the one-off Test why she is considered to be one of the best.
- Tammy Beaumont scored a double century in the one-off Test, her second in women’s Test cricket. Beaumont is a destructive batter, and she was in scintillating form in the one-off Test.
- Ashleigh Gardner took 4 wickets for 26 in the one-off Test, and she was also impressive with the bat, scoring 34 runs. Gardner is a versatile all-rounder, and she is a key player for Australia.
The 3rd T20 match of the Women’s Ashes 2023 will be played on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Lord’s, London. The match will start at 6:35 PM local time. England currently leads the series 1-0, having won the first T20 match by 7 wickets. Australia will be looking to level the series with a win in this match.