Australia staged a remarkable recovery from 4-59 to post a total of 308 before dismissing England for 222, securing an 86-run victory in the final Ashes ODI. Ashleigh Gardner’s brilliant century, combined with exceptional performances from leg-spinners Alana King and Georgia Wareham, has placed Australia on the brink of retaining the Ashes after an emphatic 86-run win in the third and final ODI.
Gardner’s knock of 102 proved crucial in rescuing Australia from a challenging position at 4-59 at Bellerive Oval. She formed vital partnerships with Beth Mooney (50 off 64) and Tahlia McGrath (55 off 35), before Wareham’s late hitting of 38* off just 12 balls lifted Australia to a total of 8-308.
Megan Schutt (3-57) provided Australia with a strong start with the ball, while King (5-46) and Wareham (2-27) were instrumental in dismissing England for 222 in 42.2 overs, despite a valiant 77 from Tammy Beaumont.
England’s chase, which would have required the highest successful ODI chase in women’s history, faltered early when Maia Bouchier was dismissed for a duck by Schutt in the opening over. Heather Knight (14) followed soon after, leaving England struggling at 2-29.
Beaumont (54 off 77) and Natalie Sciver-Brunt (61 off 68) steadied the ship, putting on an 89-run partnership that kept England’s hopes alive. However, the introduction of Wareham in the 25th over proved decisive, as the leg-spinner first removed Beaumont and then clean-bowled Sciver-Brunt, ending their resistance.
Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge fought back, taking England’s total to 200, but after their dismissals, the lower order collapsed as King tore through them. Australia’s fielding also shone, with Phoebe Litchfield taking a stunning diving catch to dismiss Wyatt-Hodge, and Kim Garth taking a low catch at short fine leg to dismiss Jones.
The most spectacular catch of the day came from Gardner, who leapt over the boundary rope to complete a remarkable catch, preventing Sophie Ecclestone’s shot from going for six.
Australia, aiming for a clean sweep of the ODI leg of the multi-format series, elected to bat first on a used pitch. Early wickets put them under pressure, with Litchfield dismissed down the leg side and Ellyse Perry caught off a short fine-leg delivery. Alyssa Healy was also dismissed cheaply, leaving Australia in deep trouble at 4-59.
In a much-needed partnership, Gardner and Mooney combined for a 95-run stand. When Mooney fell after reaching fifty, McGrath continued the fight, responding to her demotion to No.7 with a brilliant 38-ball half-century.
Gardner, in fine form, had earlier reached fifty off 53 deliveries and went on to score her career-best 102 from 100 balls. This century made history as she became the first Aboriginal woman to score an international century and the first woman to score an ODI hundred while batting at No.6.
Gardner’s consistent performances with the bat continued a solid run in ODIs, following her fifties against India and New Zealand. Though Gardner and McGrath fell in the final overs, Wareham ended the innings with a blistering 38* from just 12 balls, helping Australia post a formidable total.