Australia continued their dominance in the Women’s Ashes with a crushing 72-run victory over England in the final T20 match, extending their winning streak to six out of six. England, chasing a target of 163, collapsed to just 90 all out in 17.3 overs, marking one of their poorest batting performances in T20 cricket. Only Heather Knight and Danni Wyatt-Hodge managed to reach double figures, with the rest of the team falling apart due to poor shot selection and mis-executed sweeps. Darcie Brown and Georgia Wareham were instrumental in dismantling England’s batting lineup, with Brown taking two wickets on her return to the T20 side, and Wareham claiming three.
England’s head coach, Jon Lewis, expressed frustration with his team’s performance, admitting that they had been thoroughly outplayed. Despite good preparation, the team had struggled to execute their skills when it mattered. He noted that England had not been able to perform at the level they had practiced, which was deeply frustrating for both players and coaching staff.
An emotional Knight spoke to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, fighting back tears as she reflected on the disappointing tour. “I am gutted,” she said. “It has been a brutal tour, and we need to learn and be better. We need to remember these moments to ensure this doesn’t happen again.” Despite the defeat, Knight acknowledged that England had competed at times during the series, but their lack of momentum and poor shot choices had cost them dearly.
Australia’s fielding was once again top-notch, with standout moments including Georgia Voll’s stunning diving catch and Ellyse Perry’s brilliant run-out of Linsey Smith. Beth Mooney, too, demonstrated her exceptional athleticism, stealing crucial runs in the final overs with her speed and precision. Mooney finished unbeaten on 94, including 10 fours, showing why she is considered one of the fastest runners in the women’s game.
England’s bowling attack had managed to restrict Australia to 162 for five, with the highest score after Mooney’s 94 being Georgia Voll’s 23. The decision to drop Sarah Glenn in favor of Linsey Smith raised questions, as Smith delivered a solid performance, helping to keep Australia from finding boundaries early in the innings. However, despite these efforts, England’s batting collapse was too much to overcome.
Lewis was at a loss to explain England’s batting errors, stating that he needed to speak to the players to understand their thought processes. He acknowledged that the team had made poor choices and needed to address these issues moving forward. With the series effectively decided, England now face the prospect of an entire Test match remaining in the series, and Knight, a vocal advocate for five-day women’s Tests, may find some relief in the fact that Cricket Australia has decided to shorten the match to four days.
