da aposte e ganhe： England completed a Twenty20 clean sweep and their fifth victory in a row over Australia with a seven-wicket victory with 22 balls to spare
da spicy bet： The Report by David Hopps31-Aug-2013
ScorecardThe wicket of Meg Lanning, caught behind off Danielle Wyatt, was key for England•PA Photos
England completed a Twenty20 clean sweep and their fifth victory in a row over Australia with a seven-wicket victory with 22 balls to spare in a placid end to a memorable series in Chester-le-Street.England had regained the women’s Ashes two days earlier, more than 300 miles to the south at the Ageas Bowl, but there was no let-up in the field on a cool, blustery morning as they become the first side to defeat Australia in five consecutive matches, two out of three ODIs and three in the T20 format. Their final margin of victory in the Ashes was a comprehensive 12-4.At 14 for 3 in the fourth over, with both Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor departed, England were under strain, just as they had been at the Ages Bowl when they lost three for nine. Both were defeated by the slow surface, Taylor chipping Sarah Coyte tamely to short midwicket and Edwards dragged on against the pace of Holly Ferling, who is instantly recognisable by a long mane of fair hair kept in check by a single white ribbon.There was disappointment, too, for Heather Knight, who tore a hamstring in the opening over as she tried to regain her ground after playing a shot which saw her adjudged caught at the wicket for nought. She had to be helped from the field with the expectation that she could face a lengthy absence.Knight had the consolation of the player of the series award, a reminder of her defiant hundred in the drawn Test which provided the basis for England’s victory in this multi-format Ashes series. She was carried around on an equipment trolley for the lap of honour.But Lydia Greenway and Natalie Sciver settled the contest with a composed unbroken stand of 78 from 75 balls for the fourth wicket, with Sciver, the Surrey allrounder born in Tokyo, making her highest England score of 37 not out. Greenway, whose innings secured the Ashes in Hampshire, was strong square of the wicket in making an unbeaten 35.Edwards rates third Ashes as best yet
Charlotte Edwards, England’s captain, described her third Ashes victory as the most satisfying because England had recovered so strongly from their disappointment in the World Cup earlier in the year. “This is probably the proudest one of all. To come back so strongly after the winter we have had is extremely pleasing. We celebrated when we won the Ashes on Thursday and we will celebrate again.”
Jodie Fields, Australia’s captain, found praise for the format despite defeat and her own disappointing series. “We’ve really enjoyed this multi-format series,” she said. “Having to adapt to three formats in a short space of time has been exciting and it has been good to see the size of the crowds.”
Australia’s probably knew their luck was not in when Sarah Coyte’s attempt to run out Greenway, on 16, was off target and England gained five after shoddy backing up allowed four overthrows.
England were tigerish in the field, a sizeable advantage on a day when a slow pitch and large outfield left boundaries in short supply, the stand-out moment being Katherine Brunt’s run out of Alyssa Healy, who never entirely bought into the idea of a second run and was beaten by inches by a direct hit from deep in the off side.Australia faltered further after the loss of Meg Lanning for 32 at the start of the 12th over when Danielle Wyatt, with her first ball, angled an offbreak across her from around the wicket and Taylor collected a thin edge.England’s domination in the field was encapsulated by the fact that Lanning was the only batter to manage a boundary until the final ball of the innings, which Erin Osborne dragged backward of square leg for four.England’s captain, Edwards, quickly turned to the spinners on a slow pitch and that was much to local tastes as Danielle Hazell, a graduate of the Durham Academy, twice struck the stumps as Alex Blackwell and Ellyse Perry surrendered to poor strokes. Australia were 63 for 6 when Hazell struck for a second time but they scrambled 28 from the last 5.4 overs to provide a vaguely competitive total.
