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England suffered a dramatic defeat in the second of their Women’s Ashes ODI matches after confusion over a free kick led to Australia securing a 21-run victory in Melbourne.
The tourists were chasing 181 in a low-scoring match at the Junction Oval and had a good chance to level the series at 2-2. England were handed a further lifeline in the 48th over when Annabel Sutherland was removed from the Australian attack for bowling two no-balls.
However, Amy Jones – who had scored 47 runs in England’s chase – failed to realize she should have run from the last ball of the pass, which was a free kick.
This left number eleven Lauren Bell facing an over, and she was quickly bowled by Megan Schutt for a point, securing victory for Australia.
It was partly a positive performance for the visitors, as England bowled out Australia for just 180 in 45 overs, with Sophie Ecclestone taking 4-35 and Alice Capsey 3-22.
However, Bell’s final wicket capped a collapse for England’s batting which saw them fall from 68-2 and 120-5 to 159 overall.
Capsey had scored just 14 from 35 balls, while Charlie Dean was dismissed after attempting a ramp before Ecclestone fell behind on the next ball. And even before the free-hit mix-up, Jones had refused singles on the fifth ball of an over to avoid getting the hit on the last ball, leaving Bell to defend the entire 46th over.
And Schutt’s final wicket served to illustrate the limp batting performance of England, who failed to seize a big chance to tie the Ashes and now find themselves 4-0 down with the ODI series ending in Hobart on January 16.
Three T20 matches – all of which are also worth two points per victory – will follow the final ODI, before the Women’s Ashes conclude with a one-off four-day Test match (which is worth four points) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between January 30. and February 2.
