England are unbeaten in the Women’s Ashes as Australia won a dramatic rain-affected second T20I by six runs to complete the series.
Set a challenge of 186 to win in Canberra, England needed 18 off the last five balls with Heather Knight unbeaten on 43 before rain set in and further play was not possible. .
England finished on 168-4, six runs short of the required score determined by the Duckworth Louis Stern (DLS) method.
The result gives Australia a 12-0 lead in the points-based multi-format series, ending England’s hopes of a draw.
Rain also disrupted the tourists’ chase after 8.4 overs, with England leading by two runs at 69-1 from DLS, but eased enough to resume play without the loss of an over.
Knight’s brilliant partnership of 65 runs in 6.5 overs with Nat Sciver-Brunt kept England in contention until the final result was out of their hands and the captain left visibly distraught.
Opener Danny Whitehodge’s 40-ball 52 at the top of the order started England’s valiant effort, supported by Sophia Dunkley’s 32, but she was eventually bowled out for 48 in the last three overs of her innings. were left
They were in the game as the hosts stumbled to 137-5 after 17 overs, only Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris to claw their way to 185-5.
McGrath, standing with captain Alyssa Healy due to a foot injury, scored an unbeaten 48 off 35 balls and Harris hit three sixes off 35 off 17 balls.
Off-spinner Charlie Deane was the pick of the bowlers with 2-28 but she dropped McGrath for 42 in another poor night for England’s catching stats, with Lauren Bell and Freya Kemp also getting Georgia Wall and Annabelle Sutherland. reduced the chances of – they weren’t. Especially expensive in terms of runs, but this is a major concern for Knight’s team going forward.
The third and final T20 will be played in Adelaide on Saturday, followed by the lone Test in Melbourne on January 30.
