CANBERRA: Tahlia McGrath’s unbeaten 48-run knock remained in the spotlight as Australia edged past England by six runs as per the DLS method in a rain-affected second T20I here at the Manuka Oval on Thursday.
The visitors were 168/4 in 19.1 overs while chasing 186 when the rain intervened. They were six runs behind the DLS par score of 174 and thus succumbed to a frustrating defeat, which quashed their hopes of drawing the high-stakes series.
The victory helped Australia to secure an unassailable 10-0 lead in the Women’s Ashes.
The arch-rivals are scheduled to lock horns in one more T20I, followed by the one-off Test. The limited-overs fixture offers two points, while four points for the red-ball game.
Put into bat first, the home side registered a formidable total of 185/5 on the board, courtesy of a record sixth-wicket partnership between McGrath and Grace Harris.
The duo added 71 runs amid their stand – the highest for the sixth-wicket partnership for Australia in women’s T20Is – and recovered the hosts from 114/5 in 14.1 overs.
McGrath remained the top-scorer for Australia with a 35-ball 48, laced with eight fours, while Harris made 35 not out from just 17 deliveries with the help of two fours and three sixes.
Charlie Dean was the pick of the England bowlers, taking two wickets, while Sophie Ecclestone and Freya Kemp, chipped in with one dismissal apiece.
In response, England could score 168/4 in 19.1 overs despite top-order batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s anchoring half-century, followed by skipper Heather Knight’s blistering cameo.
Wyatt-Hodge remained the top-scorer for the touring side, scoring 52 off 40 deliveries, while Knight scored an unbeaten 43 off just 19 deliveries, studded six fours and a six.
Megan Schutt was the standout bowler for England as she picked up two wickets for 32 runs in her four overs, while Annabel Sutherland and Kim Garth made one scalp each.
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