• England Women 256-6; Australia 205
• England win by 51 runs; Ashes series level at 4 points all
England have struck back in the Women's Ashes with an emphatic 51-run win in the second one-day international over Australia at Hove. It was a spirited response to the home side's calamitous batting collapse at Lord's on Tuesday, and leaves the multi-format series all square with four matches remaining.
Charlotte Edwards led the way with 53 runs off 84 deliveries but the captain was ably supported, with all five top-order batters making healthy contributions to England's total of 256. While Australia's fast bowlers struggled for line and length on the batter-friendly pitch, England's attack tore through the Australian top order, with only Jess Cameron (81 off 108 balls) offering genuine resistance.
The win leaves both sides on four points, after one drawn Test and a win apiece in two of the three one-day internationals.
After England won the toss and elected to bat, their openers Edwards and Heather Knight picked out the gaps beautifully and found the boundary with ease on a lightning outfield, piling on 45 runs before Knight slapped a wider delivery from Megan Schutt straight to gully in the seventh over.
Sarah Taylor displayed her customary range of elegant shots in a 60-run partnership with Edwards. But the introduction of Jess Jonassen bore fruit, the left-arm spinner finding the stumps of Taylor (32) in the second over of her first spell, before bowling Edwards (53) around the legs to leave the hosts at 130 for three.
At Lord's the loss of England's captain triggered an alarming collapse but in Hove the middle order was made of sterner stuff. While the loss of Taylor and Edwards, combined with Sarah Coyte's economical first spell, put the brakes on England's scoring, Lydia Greenway and Arran Brindle soon found their feet. Both fell to Coyte just short of half-centuries but the all-rounder Natalie Sciver chimed in with a rapid-fire 26 off 20 balls to set Australia a target of 257 for victory.
While the home side feasted on inconsistency from the Southern Stars' fast bowlers, England's quicks fired, sending Australia's openers back to the pavilion without score. Katherine Brunt claimed the wicket of Rachel Haynes in the third over before Anya Shrubsole dismissed the dangerous Meg Lanning, leaving the visitors reeling at 2-2 after four overs.
Cameron led the recovery with her captain, Jodie Fields, until the skipper attempted to loft Laura Marsh over mid-on, only to see it drop short into the safe hands of Knight for 20.
Jennie Gunn displayed both bravery and superb reflexes in pulling off the catch of the day, the bowler flattened when Alex Blackwell smashed the ball straight. Gunn finished on her back but somehow managed to hold on to the ball to leave Australia flailing at 117 for four in the 29th over.
Cameron battled gamely against the tide of a spiralling run rate but was running out of partners. When Brunt returned for a second spell the rout was all but complete, the right-arm seamer skittling Cameron's stumps in the 36th over leaving Australia an Everest to climb at 157 for seven.
Shrubsole finished with one for 27 off her 10 overs, while Brunt and Colvin each took two wickets.
The teams return here on Sunday for a third 50-over match before the series enters the final Twenty20 phase. Reported by guardian.co.uk 18 hours ago.
• England win by 51 runs; Ashes series level at 4 points all
England have struck back in the Women's Ashes with an emphatic 51-run win in the second one-day international over Australia at Hove. It was a spirited response to the home side's calamitous batting collapse at Lord's on Tuesday, and leaves the multi-format series all square with four matches remaining.
Charlotte Edwards led the way with 53 runs off 84 deliveries but the captain was ably supported, with all five top-order batters making healthy contributions to England's total of 256. While Australia's fast bowlers struggled for line and length on the batter-friendly pitch, England's attack tore through the Australian top order, with only Jess Cameron (81 off 108 balls) offering genuine resistance.
The win leaves both sides on four points, after one drawn Test and a win apiece in two of the three one-day internationals.
After England won the toss and elected to bat, their openers Edwards and Heather Knight picked out the gaps beautifully and found the boundary with ease on a lightning outfield, piling on 45 runs before Knight slapped a wider delivery from Megan Schutt straight to gully in the seventh over.
Sarah Taylor displayed her customary range of elegant shots in a 60-run partnership with Edwards. But the introduction of Jess Jonassen bore fruit, the left-arm spinner finding the stumps of Taylor (32) in the second over of her first spell, before bowling Edwards (53) around the legs to leave the hosts at 130 for three.
At Lord's the loss of England's captain triggered an alarming collapse but in Hove the middle order was made of sterner stuff. While the loss of Taylor and Edwards, combined with Sarah Coyte's economical first spell, put the brakes on England's scoring, Lydia Greenway and Arran Brindle soon found their feet. Both fell to Coyte just short of half-centuries but the all-rounder Natalie Sciver chimed in with a rapid-fire 26 off 20 balls to set Australia a target of 257 for victory.
While the home side feasted on inconsistency from the Southern Stars' fast bowlers, England's quicks fired, sending Australia's openers back to the pavilion without score. Katherine Brunt claimed the wicket of Rachel Haynes in the third over before Anya Shrubsole dismissed the dangerous Meg Lanning, leaving the visitors reeling at 2-2 after four overs.
Cameron led the recovery with her captain, Jodie Fields, until the skipper attempted to loft Laura Marsh over mid-on, only to see it drop short into the safe hands of Knight for 20.
Jennie Gunn displayed both bravery and superb reflexes in pulling off the catch of the day, the bowler flattened when Alex Blackwell smashed the ball straight. Gunn finished on her back but somehow managed to hold on to the ball to leave Australia flailing at 117 for four in the 29th over.
Cameron battled gamely against the tide of a spiralling run rate but was running out of partners. When Brunt returned for a second spell the rout was all but complete, the right-arm seamer skittling Cameron's stumps in the 36th over leaving Australia an Everest to climb at 157 for seven.
Shrubsole finished with one for 27 off her 10 overs, while Brunt and Colvin each took two wickets.
The teams return here on Sunday for a third 50-over match before the series enters the final Twenty20 phase. Reported by guardian.co.uk 18 hours ago.