Australia set England 156 in Lord’s women’s Ashes T20

Glenn Moore | July 9, 2023

Ellyse Perry has top-scored with a 25-ball 34 as Australia took advantage of sloppy England catching to post 7-155 at Lord’s in the third and final Ashes T20.

Put in to bat in the first women’s Ashes T20 to be held at the ground, Australia struggled to get going on Saturday but 37 off the last three overs enabled them to post a defendable, if underwhelming score.

In the first T20, England had set Australia a target of 154 which they achieved with a ball to spare. In the second, however, both sides passed 180.

Like their men, England’s women struggled to take their chances, dropping five chances, though they were not overly expensive.  

Skipper Alyssa Healy hit the first two balls of the innings to the boundary but was then dropped before being lbw for 16 in an eventful 10-ball innings. 

With only 36 scored in the six-over powerplay, Australia were being stifled and things got worse as Tahlia McGrath (10 off 13) scooped a mis-hit to mid-off.

Beth Mooney (32 off 27) and Ash Gardner (32 off 25) both attempted to inject acceleration but were dismissed in unusual fashion by Nat Sciver-Brunt for 32. 

Mooney played on trying to ramp while Gardner was caught by Amy Jones standing up off a bouncer after charging the bowler.

That brought Grace Harris out to join Perry, but they were only together for seven balls when rain drove the players from the field.

It was only a six-minute break, and on the resumption Perry pulled her first ball for six. The pair aided by some fortune, took 16 off the 18th over bowled by Sciver-Brunt, but Perry was then leg before to Lauren Bell.

With DRS malfunctioning, her review was unable to be scrutinised but replays suggested it would have been unsuccessful.

Harris went on to hit and scramble 25 off 15 balls before being run out off the last. 

Before England could start their innings, rain returned and the covers went on.