Women’s Ashes 2017-18: Australia edge out England by 6 wickets in 1st T20I; retain Ashes

Australia edge out England by 6 wickets in 1st T20I; retain Ashes

Australia retained the women’s Ashes with six-wicket win over England in the first Twenty20 international in Sydney on Friday. A career-best haul of four for 22 from Megan Schutt restricted England to 132 for nine before Beth Mooney’s 86 — the highest score in a T20 in Australia — helped reel in the target with 25 balls to spare.

The two points from the victory clinched the series for Australia with two matches to play.

In the multi-format series, the four points from two ODI wins, two points from the drawn day-night Test and the T20 victory enabled Australia take an unassailable lead and retain the trophy.

The highlight of the Ashes series was Ellyse Perry’s record-breaking 213 not out in the day-night Ashes Test last week.

The series now moves to Canberra for the final two T20Is on Sunday and Tuesday at Manuka Oval.

Brief scores:

England 132 for 9 in 20 overs (Daniel Wyatt 50; Megan Schutt 4 for 22) lost to Australia 134 for 4 in 15.5 overs (Beth Mooney 86; Sophie Ecclestone 1 for 26) by 6 wickets.