SYDNEY: A stellar unbeaten half-century from Beth Mooney in the first of three Twenty20 Internationals not just took Australia to a commanding six-wicket win at the North Sydney Oval, but also ensured that the hosts retained the Women’s Ashes with an all-round effort that was kickstarted by their bowlers. Taking an unassailable 8-4 lead in the multi-format series, and with just four points up for grabs in the remaining two games, Australia, by virtue of having won the 2015 series, will keep the trophy. However, a win in one of the remaining two T20Is will give Australia an outright win, after the hosts won the ODI series 2-1 and the Only Test ended in a draw. Rachael Haynes asked England to bat in Sydney and the visitors were reduced to 16 for 4 in no time. However, they did recover well on Friday to post 132 for 9 in their quota of overs. The total never looked enough on the surface as Australia’s batters proved, completing the chase with 4.1 overs to spare. Mooney wasn’t named in Australia’s Ashes squad for the One-Day Internationals. She made her Test debut in the only Test where she only managed a 27. Yet, she came into her own in the first T20I, spearheading Australia’s chase from onset. Tammy Beaumont then nicked one to Healy off Ellyse Perry and Katherine Brunt at 5 followed her back in same fashion as England found themselves at 16 for 4 in the fifth over. Brief scores: England women 132/9 in 20 overs (Danielle Wyatt 50, Natalie Sciver 26; Megan Schutt 4-22). Australia women 134/4 in 15.5 overs (Beth Mooney 86*) by six wickets.
