Australia retains Women’s Ashes after Test draw

Australia have won the Women’s Ashes after playing out the final day of the Test.

England were up against it after the third day and declared 145 runs behind in an attempt to bowl Australia out quickly.

Australia only needed the two points available by drawing the Test to take an unassailable 8-2 lead after winning all three ODIs.

Natalie Sciver moved from 62 overnight to 88 before being bowled Jess Jonassen and Laura Marsh hit a knock of 28 before the declaration.

Australia held out for 64 overs before the close of play to confirm the series win. They did slip to 15-2, though as Alyssa Healy (13) and Rachael Haynes (1) were both taken out by Marsh.

Meg Lanning’s partnership with Elysse Perry settled Australia though before Lanning fell.

Perry ended the day on an unbeaten 76 and England simply were not able to threaten.

The Australia middle-order defended well, with Jonassen adding 37 and Sophie Molineux scoring 41 as time ran out on England’s Ashes campaign.

Cover Photo: Your Out by Graham Dean used under license by CC BY 2.0.