Australian Women Edge England in Thrilling First ODI Match

Shilpa Rajan January 16, 2025

Australian women have started 2025 with a win in the first match of the Women’s Ashes. England Women suffered a four-wicket loss in the first ODI of the series. This was a low-scoring contest at the North Sydney Oval. These two teams will play three ODIs, three T20Is, and one Test match. Here is a look at how the first match of the series went.

Australian women bowlers restrict English batters

Alyssa Healy won the toss and decided to bowl first. Australia has a strong line-up in the women’s game. There are plenty of all-rounders in the team.

England lost their first minute inside four overs. Maia Bouchier was the first wicket to depart. Heather Knight joined Tammy Beaumont in the middle and created a 50-run stand. Beaumont’s departure led to a break in the scoring rate. England were 92-2 towards the end of 19 overs.

The visitors were left in a spot of bother when they lost Knight and Sciver-Brunt within three overs. England were 95-4 in 21.1 overs.

English fightback and Aussie comeback

Dani Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones were in the middle. Both batters stood in the middle for seven overs and scored 50 runs combined. Both looked positive in the middle until Jones lost her wicket. There was still some batting left in the English line-up.

However, Australian women proved to be the better team on the night. Their bowlers restricted the England team to a low total of 204 runs in 43.1 overs. Ashleigh Gardner took three wickets in the innings in her 6.1 overs. Kim Garth, Annabel Sutherland, and Alana King took a couple of wickets each. The score was below par on a boundary-scoring ground. Australian women were on top of their opponents throughout the first innings.

Captain leads from the front

Alyssa Healy has a new opening partner in the form of Phoebe Litchfield. The left-right combination is always a challenge for the bowling team. However, Australia lost their first wicket in the second over. Litchfield went to the pavilion on just four runs. Perry also got out cheaply on 14 runs. Australia was 43 for two in 8.4 overs.

Beth Mooney joined her friend in the middle and both created a 50-run partnership for the third wicket. Mooney lost her wicket on 28 runs. Annabel Sutherland was the fourth player out. The home team was 124 for four in 23.2 overs. Healy stood at the other end. She scored 70 runs before getting out. This inning had 11 fours and helped the team to chase the target.

Ashleigh Gardner took the command to take her side over the line. She scored 42 runs off just 44 balls and took her team over the line. Gardner won the Man of the Match award for her performance. Lauren Filer and Ecclestone took two wickets each in the second innings. Bell and Dean chipped in with one wicket each.

These two teams will now meet in the second ODI at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on January 14.