The Women’s Ashes 2023 finally came to an end with England clinching the ODI series in a rain-curtailed chase. Despite the Aussies retaining the Ashes, Heather Knight-led England would be satisfied with their performance throughout the multi-format series.
The third and final ODI of the series was played at the County Ground in Taunton on Tuesday, July 18. Coming in to bat after losing the toss, England got off to the worst of starts to their innings as openers Sophia Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont were sent packing early for just two and four runs, respectively.
The early setback, however, was stabilized by skipper Heather Knight and all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt. Knight amassed 67 runs in 72 deliveries, and Sciver-Brunt followed it up with a masterful knock of 129 runs in 149 balls. Furthermore, Danni Wyatt’s late push of 43 runs helped the hosts post 285 runs on the board in the first innings.
Ashleigh Gardner and Jess Jonassen were the highest wicket takers for Australia in the first innings with three wickets each, with Megan Schutt and Alana King taking one wicket each.
Ellyse Perry’s efforts in vain in rain-ridden run chase
As rain disrupted play, Australia aimed to chase down a shortened target of 269 runs in 44 overs. However, it seemed like the visitors were not ready for what England had in store for them. Openers Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield had a horrid outing, only managing to score seven and one run, respectively.
It was Ellyse Perry who played a resilient knock after the early dismissal of the openers, amassing 53 runs in 58 deliveries. Furthermore, Tahlia McGrath also added 26 runs to the scoreboard. However, as the batting order looked to collapse after the top order’s failure to go big, Ashleigh Gardner stepped up and scored 41 runs in 24 deliveries.
Despite the joint effort of the Australian batters, it was not enough to chase the target down, as they were bundled out for just 199 runs, and England won the game by 69 runs through the DLS method in a rain-curtailed end to the Women’s Ashes 2023. The Ashes series eventually ended in an 8-8 draw, but Australia being the defending champions retained the trophy.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the third ODI of the Women’s Ashes 2023:
What a series that will go down as one of the greatest in history 👏👏👏
We draw the Metro Bank Women’s Ashes 2023 🤝#EnglandCricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/4eKHjO5GAI
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 18, 2023
Retained, and without Lanning too! Can’t complain about that.
— Axciem (@AxciemG) July 18, 2023
Go on girls! Bittersweet – but what an incredible series. So proud of this team – they’ve inspired a generation ❤️❤️ Wow! #womensashes
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) July 18, 2023
We have been lucky to follow not 1 but 2 #Ashes series. The players have played such entertaining 🏏 However I want to give a HUGE shout out to @ECB_cricket for making the schedule seamless. Never did I have to chose what to watch. Allows fans to be engaged in both #thanks
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) July 18, 2023
Meg Lanning as Australia captain is great when she’s playing
But everytime she has not played for Australia in the last 12 months, you get a chance to appreciate her captaincy & astuteness even more#WomensAshes #Ashes
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) July 18, 2023
Great women’s Ashes .. Drawn series but I am sure England are kicking themselves for losing the Test I reckon they should have won .. #Ashes
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 18, 2023
Annabel S’s bat tap routine wasn’t the same for the delivery she got out to.
— Shikha Pandey (@shikhashauny) July 18, 2023
Incredible women’s ashes series! 7 exciting games, ashes drawn overall and England winning both white ball series. Amazing!
— Lottie Porter (@LottiePorter1) July 18, 2023
What an incredible series this has been, and the English women displayed absolute domination over the Aussies with that back-to-back series win, but the Ashes ended in a tie. This game makes me proud!
— philiphere☄ (@thephilliphere) July 18, 2023
Brilliant #Ashes series. Loved every minute. A proper tussle, some dodgy cricket but a lot of quality and grit. Good contest, unpredictable. Test should be worth 2 points. #ENGvAUS #WomensAshes 🏏
— Faith Florence (@thefaithflo) July 18, 2023
🏴.🏏..Congratulations to Australia on taking the Ashes trophy but a fantastic effort from England taking both one day series and levelling the overall series to 8-8 coming back from 0-6 down..Superb cricket and entertainment from BOTH teams..👏👏👏..#WomensAshes #EnglandCricket
— NormanSpeakes (@norman_speakes) July 18, 2023
It’s a memorable win for England,One they which remember for long time because first win the T20 series now win the ODI series aginst the strong Australian women side.Hosts show complete game of cricket in all the way #ENGvAUS #Ashes pic.twitter.com/RYsQnfGi4w
— Mehmed khan (@Mehmedkhan45228) July 18, 2023
A wonderful series. One for the ages. #WomensAshes @englandcricket https://t.co/sFYi7DTFTC
— Greg Wright (@gregwrightYP) July 18, 2023
They may not have won the Ashes, but the way @englandcricket women have played this series has been incredible and I think Australia should be worried now #WAshes
— Chris Lickley (@ChrisLickley) July 18, 2023
England women have won the ODI series along with the T20 series against Australia! What a phenomenal achievement 👏🏼. Technically it’s a drawn #Ashes2023 but for me it’s 2-1 to England🙈 #WomensAshes 🏴
— Dr Samara Afzal (@SamaraAfzal) July 18, 2023