England Women end on high but Australia win out 10-6
Tuesday 1 September 2015 12:45, UK
Nat Sciver put in a career-best all-round display of 4-15 and 47 as England Women ended their Ashes campaign with a consolation five-wicket win over Australia in the third T20, at Cardiff.
The 23-year-old followed up a scintillating spell of 4-11 from Anya Shrubsole - the best T20 figures against Australia - as the tourists were shot out for 111.
Sciver then shared a fourth-wicket stand of 55 in 8.4 overs with Katherine Brunt (17) to rescue the hosts from 22-3 before being run out with just six runs needed - England finishing on 114-5 off 18.1 overs.
The result means that Australia, who regained the Ashes by taking an unassailable 10-4 lead with victory in the second T20 international, finish the multi-format series as 10-6 winners.
Charlotte Edwards' side quickly made in-roads after the skipper had won the toss and opted to bowl first under murky skies as Shrubsole reduced the tourists to 25-4.
The 23-year-old castled Australia skipper Meg Lanning with her second legitimate delivery - the ball hooping in to hit off stump - before Elyse Villani followed just three deliveries later as she skied a steepling chance that Lydia Greenway safely pouched to make it 9-2.
The seamer grabbed a third when Jess Cameron (10) picked out Danielle Wyatt in the deep and a fourth as Edwards took a sharp chance in the gully to send Jess Jonassen back first ball. Shrubsole might have had a fifth, only to have a strong lbw shout against Blackwell turned down.
Ellyse Perry, currently the third-highest ranked all-rounder in the world, could not dig Australia out of the mire despite a confident start - falling as she dragged Nat Sciver on from well outside off - and Alex Blackwell (24) also fell softly when well set, picking out cover.
Grace Harris attempted - and succeeded - in dragging Australia past three figures, pulling first Danielle Hazell and then Katherine Brunt for six.
Rebecca Grundy got the same treatment after missing a tough return chance but didn't have to move when Harris reverse swept Sciver into her hands; Sarah Coyte fell very next ball, picking out Shrubsole at mid-on.
England's chase began in dismal fashion as Danielle Wyatt, promoted to opener, was bowled first ball by Perry before Sarah Taylor's miserable run continued as she nicked Rene Farrell behind.
The top-order trauma continued when Charlotte Edwards squeezed Farrell to point to make it 22-3, raising doubts as to whether England would pass their tally of 87 at Hove.
But Sciver patiently rebuilt in partnership with the bullish Brunt, pouncing on anything short and lofting Jonassen down the ground for six.
The pair posted their fifty stand off 47 balls but while Brunt could not press on to the finish, falling lbw to Lanning, Lydia Greenway coming to and striking successive fours down the ground off Coyte to all but finish the contest.
Sciver - whose previous best T20 international score was 37no - missed out on a fifty when she was run out at the bowler's end by Healy's direct throw.
But her efforts were not in vain as Greenway swung the winning runs behind square to see the home side home with 11 balls left.
