Australia women win third T20I against England

Sydney, Feb 2 (IANS) Australia defeated England by seven wickets in the third Twenty20 International of the Women’s Ashes at Stadium Australia here Sunday.

England secured the Ashes title following their win in the first T20I at Hobart and finished the series with a points lead of 10-8. Australia’s Ellyse Perry claimed the Peden-Archdale Medal as the player-of-the-series.

Captain Meg Lanning won the toss and sent England in to bat first. The visitors made 101/8 from their 20 overs, a total which was chased down by Australia in the 19th over as they reached 102/3 with nine balls to spare. Rene Farrell’s figures of 4/15 earned her player-of-the-match.

Australia got off to solid start with the ball as Farrell snared the wicket of Lauren Winfield (0) in the second over. Two overs later Farrell struck again, claiming key wickets of Charlotte Edwards (12) and Lydia Greenway (0) with successive balls.

Sarah Taylor (22) provided some stability at the top of the order before she was caught out by Nicole Bolton off the bowling of Megan Schutt (1/13). Arran Brindle added six runs before she lost her wicket courtesy a brilliant one-handed catch by Lanning at mid-wicket.

Natalie Sciver (28) continued her good form before she was run out in the 15th over. Four balls later Danielle Wyatt (6) fell victim to another run out as England fell to 79/7. Jenny Gunn (11 not out) and Danielle Hazell (9) added a handful of runs later before the latter was bowled on the final ball of the innings.

Australia openers Elyse Villani (36 not out) and Alyssa Healy (22) got off to a steady start, quickly building a 48-run partnership before Healy was caught out by Greenway off the bowling of Brindle (1/19).

Lanning (23) joined Villani at the crease and wasted no time as she found the boundary on three occasions on her way to a knock of 23 before getting caught out in the 14th over. Villani batted through the entire innings and was joined by Bolton (6) and Alex Blackwell (10 not out) late, who helped their side to reach the target.

Despite losing the Test, Australia won the One-Day International (ODI) series 2-1 and the T20I series 2-1.