England draw Ashes and end Australia’s 10-year ODI streak

England thrashed Australia in Taunton to draw the Women’s Ashes series and inflict a first bilateral one-day international series defeat on the tourists since 2013.

World champions Australia were set a revised target of 269 in 44 overs after rain interrupted their pursuit of England’s 285-9, which was set up by Nat Sciver-Brunt’s second successive century.

But England patiently chipped away with regular wickets while Australia struggled for partnerships, eventually slipping from 190-6 to 199 all out.

Australia lost both openers early and slipped to 15-2 before all-rounder Ellyse Perry blunted England’s attack with stands of 53 and 45 with Tahlia McGrath and Beth Mooney respectively.

But Perry’s 53 was the sole half-century in the innings, as Ash Gardner’s eye-catching 41 from 24 balls provided a late spark to the chase before she was brilliantly run out by Danni Wyatt from the boundary.

Kate Cross starred with 3-48 while Lauren Bell and spinner Charlie Dean took two wickets apiece as Australia struggled to regain any rhythm after the rain came 19.2 overs into their innings.

Earlier, Sciver-Brunt laid the foundations for England’s historic victory with another sensational innings that came after England slipped to 12-2, adding a vital stand of 147 with skipper Heather Knight, who made 67.

Wyatt then added an explosive 43 from 25 balls to help England set their highest-ever ODI total against Australia on home soil and what would have been the second-highest successful run-chase of all time.

The result concludes the most closely-fought Ashes since 2017, when it was last drawn, but England’s decade-long wait to hold the urn continues despite ultimately winning more games in the series, reflecting the significance of the four points from Australia’s Test victory in June.

More to follow.