Ellyse Perry took three for 12 and scored 40 to propel Australia to a 5-wicket victory over England in the second ODI at Junction Oval on Sunday.
Australia defeated England in the second ODI of the women’s Ashes 2022 at Junction Oval in Melbourne to claim the urn with one match to go. After a close contest in the first ODI, Meg Lanning’s Australia were too strong for the visitors in the second match as the hosts came out victorious with five wickets and 88 balls to spare.
Chasing a moderate total of 130, the Aussies found themselves in a bit of trouble after losing Lanning (0) and Rachael Haynes and early. Alyssa Healy and Perry added 31 runs for the third wicket before Healy was dismissed on 22 by Nat Sciver.
Perry held the one end well and added 36 runs with Tahlia McGrath (19) for the fourth wicket. Perry’s solid knock of 40 off 64 saw five fours and a six before she was run out, with Australia needing just 31 runs more with five wickets in hand. Ashleigh Gardner then smashed 31 runs off 34 balls to take the team over the line.
Earlier, having won the toss, Australia sent in England to bat first. Perry, who had not taken a wicket in ODIs for two years, returned back to form as she snared Tammy Beaumont in the fourth over. Lauren Winfield-Hill looked solid in her 24-run knock, but leg-spinner Alana King pinned her LBW in the 11th over.
Jonassen then removed England’s two best players Sciver (8) and Heather Knight (18) in her consecutive overs to reduce the visitors to 59/4. Perry, in her return spell, dismissed Sophia Dunkley (2) and Charlie Dean (0), while Annabel Sutherland claimed Danny Wyatt (0) with a sensational catch from Lanning.
The visitors were 68/7 at this point. Amy Jones (28) and Sophie Ecclestone (31*) helped the Lionesses cross 120. McGrath claimed the last three wickets to end the England innings.
With this comprehensive victory, Australia took a 10-4 lead in the multi-format series to win the women’s Ashes 2022. England will look for a consolation win in the last game of the tour on February 8.
Brief scores
England Women: 129 in 45.2 overs (Ecclestone 31*, Jones 28; Perry 3/12, McGrath 3/4)
Australia Women: 130/5 in 35.2 overs (Perry 40, Gardner 31; Cross 2/46, Shrubsole 1/28)
