England revived their hopes in the Ashes series with a thrilling three-run victory over Australia in the second T20 match at The Oval. Danni Wyatt’s impressive innings of 76 runs off 46 balls propelled England to their highest-ever T20 total of 186-9 against the reigning world champions.
In pursuit of the challenging target, Australia required an unlikely 20 runs in the final over but fell short, finishing at 183-8. Ellyse Perry’s two consecutive sixes off the last two balls were not enough to secure victory for Australia. With this win, England narrowed the series gap to 6-2 in Australia’s favor.
The match witnessed a spirited crowd of 20,328 in south London as England got off to a positive start with an opening partnership of 57 runs between Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley. However, a middle-order collapse triggered by Annabel Sutherland’s excellent bowling (3-28) saw England stumble from 100-1 to 119-6. This collapse included the dismissal of skipper Heather Knight for a first-ball duck in her 100th T20 international.
Wyatt’s aggressive approach and Sophie Ecclestone’s valuable contribution of 22 runs off 12 balls in the final stages helped England post a competitive total. In response, Australia’s openers, Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy, aggressively attacked England’s seamers, adding a quickfire 59 runs in just 6.2 overs. However, the introduction of spinners Sarah Glenn and Ecclestone halted Australia’s momentum, leading to a middle-order collapse where they lost four wickets for just 16 runs.
Despite a late fightback led by Perry, England’s bowlers, particularly Ecclestone, maintained their composure and clinched a narrow victory. The third and final T20 match of the series will be held at Lord’s on Saturday.
England’s performances throughout the Test and T20 matches have been commendable, even though they were trailing 6-0. They displayed resilience in the Test and came close to victory in the first T20 match at Edgbaston. The win at The Oval allowed them to stay in contention for the Ashes. The team’s habit of losing wickets in clusters remains a concern, but Wyatt’s impactful innings and the spinners’ impressive performances were crucial in securing the victory.
Captain Heather Knight acknowledged the psychological significance of the win, while Danni Wyatt expressed her delight at beating Australia and emphasized the team’s focus on continuous improvement. England understands the challenge ahead and aims to win the T20 series 2-1, anticipating a strong response from Australia in the upcoming match at Lord’s.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ashes
Q: What was the result of the second T20 match between England and Australia in the Ashes series?
A: England won the second T20 match by three runs, keeping their hopes alive in the Ashes series against Australia.
Q: Who was the standout performer for England in the match?
A: Danni Wyatt played a crucial role for England, scoring 76 runs off 46 balls, which helped them set their highest-ever T20 total against Australia.
Q: How did Australia fare in their chase?
A: Australia fell short by three runs, finishing at 183-8 in their 20 overs. Despite Ellyse Perry’s two sixes in the final over, they were unable to reach the target set by England.
Q: What is the current score in the Ashes series?
A: With England’s win in the second T20 match, Australia maintains a 6-2 lead in the points-based Ashes series.
Q: Where will the third and final T20 match take place?
A: The third and final T20 match of the series will be held at Lord’s on Saturday, providing another opportunity for both teams to make an impact in the Ashes.
More about Ashes
- [Scorecard](link to the scorecard)
- [Highlights on iPlayer: Watch England’s T20 victory](link to the highlights)
- [England ‘going to fly’ after first win – Knight](link to the article)
- [Third time lucky for under-pressure England](link to the article)
- [Women’s Ashes series overview](link to the series overview)
2 comments
can’t wait for the final t20 match at lords!! it’s gonna be a nail-biter. both teams have shown some great fight. hope england can make it 2-1 in the series. #lordst20 #bringit
england’s win keeps them alive in the ashes series against aussie. they were trailin 6-0 but finally made a comback. hope they win the next match too. #cricket #exciting