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The euphoria of the England camp as Australia’s batsmen departed one by one could not have been more different from the frustrated, lethargic look on England’s batsmen 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 sent the Jenga tower reeling. Capsey’s wickets proved equally crucial: the core of Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner departed, leaving the tower to collapse. Dismissing Australia for 180, their lowest score in a home one-day international 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 an exciting match, but England’s failure to capitalize on a winning position is becoming a familiar story. Here, sport telegraph look at the key moments…
The departure of Sciver-Brunt
The big turning point was the fifth wicket. The few England fans probably had an idea it would all end when Nat Sciver-Brunt gave the ball to Beth Mooney for some catching practice. It meant England sank 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 left, Australia was like a boa constrictor suffocating its prey. As the remaining balls dwindled, the runs required failed to slow at a comfortable pace. It exposed, once again, England’s over-dependence on Sciver-Brunt and the weakness beneath it.
King two in two
There is an aura of invincibility that surrounds this Australian team with its packed trophy cabinet, from World Cups to the Ashes. As a result, for the opposition, when facing Australia, there is both the physiological challenge and the cricketing challenge.
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 to get back into the game. Alana King was Australia’s weapon of choice to rescue them from the pits of a low total.
The back-to-back exits of Charlie Dean and Ecclestone agitated the spectators soaking up the afternoon sun, and all their attention was focused on the leg-spin masterclass King was delivering, appropriately against the backdrop of the Shane Stand Warne.
“I don’t think I’m cut out for hat-tricks, I’ve missed a couple,” said King, speaking after the match. “To be honest, I’m really happy with how everything is turning out, so hat-trick or not, I’m really excited about this win.”
Struggling to cope with the pressure…again
Success doesn’t make a team immune to pressure; If anything, it accumulates. However, the hosts seem much more comfortable absorbing that pressure and staying on task. On multiple occasions, the Australians recovered from missed catches or missed opportunities.
On the contrary, England seem to have difficulty dealing with the pressure. Instead of accepting it, it seems to lead to mistakes and they failed to take advantage of any opportunity that Australia presented to them.
“I don’t know who had more pressure, us or them,” King said. “I think we were much calmer than maybe them. I can only go by how we were on the field; I can tell you that my heart rate was through the roof. It was just a great game of cricket, which is why we love the Ashes.
“Everyone was pretty clear about what their plan was and I think we stayed calm for a lot longer.”
The file cabinet is out of stock.
Quick fielding work from Darcie Brown, Alyssa Healy and Megan Schutt meant Australia were able to capitalize on Lauren Filer’s key decision to run with Amy Jones remaining in the forward side. Filer and Lauren Bell are somewhat interchangeable within the batting line-up, but Filer’s departure did not give England any safety net.
With one wicket remaining, victory was within reach of the Australians and it was evident that the visitors were under immense pressure. Jones was reluctant to move, making England’s job difficult with each delivery.
Jones loses a vital career
The game was still alive in the 48th minute, and two no-balls above waist height from Sutherland, the latter protesting loudly, gave England a vital chance. This meant that Sutherland was unable to complete her over late in the game, so Tahlia McGrath stepped up to bowl the free hit to Amy Jones to finish the over.
Jones was caught bowling the ball towards deep square leg, but as it was a free hit, she and Bell could still run to ensure Jones was on strike for the penultimate over. England needed 22 runs to win in the last two overs, and they needed Jones on strike.
Instead, Jones and Bell stood still. Jones may not have realized it was the last ball of the over, it may have been a lapse in concentration, but more should be expected from a game management perspective from such an experienced player.
As King said: “I’m really surprised Jonesy (Amy Jones) didn’t run, but that’s what pressure does, right?”
It was a costly mistake. Bell could only block for so long and Schutt was quick to take that last crucial wicket with the first ball of the 49th over.
It’s game over for England, and their chances of regaining the Ashes are getting further and further away as they are now trailing 4-0 in the series.