The elation from the England camp as Australia’s batters departed one by one could not have been more different to the frustrated and lethargic look of England’s batters as they trudged back to the pavilion, wickets falling.
Bowling in tandem, Sophie Ecclestone and Alice Capsey took seven wickets between them in the second one-day international of this Women’s Ashes series in Melbourne. Ecclestone’s dismissals of Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney at the top of the order caused the Jenga tower to wobble. Capsey’s wickets proved equally as crucial – the core of Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner departing, leaving the tower to collapse. Bowling Australia out for 180, their lowest score in a one-day international at home since 2009, put England in a strong position to level the series, but their batting line-up fell short as the hosts won by 21 runs.
It was a thrilling match but England’s failure to capitalise on a winning position is becoming something of a familiar story. Here, Telegraph Sport looks at the key moments…
Sciver-Brunt’s departure
The big turning point was the fifth wicket. The smattering of England fans probably all had an inkling it would be over as Nat Sciver-Brunt chipped the ball up for Beth Mooney to do some catching practice. It meant England sunk to 84 for five at the 23-over mark. In comparison, Australia’s fifth wicket fell in the 29th over when they had already put 149 on the board.
After Sciver-Brunt departed, Australia were like a boa constrictor suffocating its prey. As the balls remaining reduced, the runs required failed to decrease at a comfortable pace. It exposed, once again, England’s over-reliance on Sciver-Brunt and the weakness below her.
King’s two in two
There is an aura of invincibility that surrounds this Australian team with their trophy cabinet full to bursting, from World Cups to Ashes. As a result, for the opposition, there is both the physiological challenge and the cricketing challenge when facing Australia.
It is evident that Australia are a team full of match-winners who step up on different occasions knowing that there is always a way back into the game. Alana King was Australia’s choice of weapon to rescue them from the pits of a low total.
Charlie Dean and Ecclestone’s consecutive departures stirred the spectators basking in the afternoon sun, their full attention turning to the leg-spin masterclass King was putting on, fittingly with a backdrop of the Shane Warne stand.
“I don’t think I’m made for hat-tricks, I’ve missed a couple,” King said, speaking after the game. “I’m pretty happy with how it’s coming out to be honest so hat-trick or no hat-trick I’m pretty stoked with this win.”
Struggling to cope with pressure… again
Success does not make a team immune from pressure; if anything it piles it on. Yet the hosts seem far more comfortable absorbing that pressure and staying focused on task. On multiple occasions, the Australians bounced back from dropped catches or missed opportunities.
In contrast, England seem to struggle to deal with pressure. Rather than embrace it, it seems to lead to errors and they failed to exploit on any openings presented to them by Australia.
“I don’t know who had more pressure – us or them,” King said. “I think we were a lot calmer than maybe they were. I can only go from how we were in the field – I can tell you my heart rate was through the roof. It was just a great game of cricket, this is why we love the Ashes.
“Everyone was pretty clear on what their plan was and I think we held our nerve a lot longer.”
Filer is run out
Rapid work in the field by Darcie Brown, Alyssa Healy and Megan Schutt meant Australia could capitalise on Lauren Filer’s key call to run with the goal that Amy Jones would remain at the striker’s end. Filer and Lauren Bell are somewhat interchangeable within the batting line up but Filer’s departure gave England no safety net.
With one wicket remaining, a win was at the fingertips of the Aussies and it was evident that the visitors were under immense pressure. Jones was reluctant to move, making England’s job harder every delivery.
Jones misses a vital run
The game was still alive in the 48th over – and two no balls above waist height from Sutherland, the latter heavily protested, presented England with a vital opportunity. It meant Sutherland was unable to complete her over late in the game so Tahlia McGrath stepped up to bowl the free hit delivery to Amy Jones and finish the over.
Jones was caught pulling the ball to deep square leg, but as it was a free hit, her and Bell could still run to ensure Jones was on strike for the penultimate over. England needed 22 runs to win from the final two overs – and they needed Jones on strike.
Instead, Jones and Bell were stationary. Jones may not have realised it was the final ball of the over, it may have been a lapse in concentration, but more must be expected from a game management perspective from such an experienced player.
As King said: “Very surprised that Jonesy [Amy Jones] didn’t run, but that’s what pressure does right?”
It was an expensive mistake. Bell could only block for so long and Schutt steamed in to take that crucial final wicket with the first ball of the 49th over.
Game over for England – and their chances of regaining the Ashes are slipping further away as they now trail 4-0 in the series.
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