In a heart-stopping contest at The Oval, Nat Sciver-Brunt's breathtaking century was not enough to prevent Australia from securing a nail-biting three-wicket victory in the first one-day international of the Women's Ashes.
Chasing a target of 264 set by England, the Australian side held their nerve in a tense finale, reaching 267-7 with just 11 balls to spare. This hard-fought win gives the visitors a crucial 4-2 lead in the multi-format series, putting immense pressure on the home team with only two ODIs remaining.
A Masterclass in Vain: Sciver-Brunt's Lonely Fight
The story of the day was written by the brilliant blade of Nat Sciver-Brunt. Walking in with England in a precarious position at 12-2, she played an innings of sheer class and determination. Her unbeaten 111 runs came from 99 deliveries, a knock punctuated by 14 elegant boundaries.
Despite her heroic efforts, Sciver-Brunt found little support from the other end. Wickets fell at regular intervals, and at 121-5, England's innings was in danger of collapse. A vital 57-run partnership with Sophie Ecclestone (31) provided some stability, but the innings never quite achieved the explosive finish required to post a truly daunting total.
Australia's Calculated Chase
In response, Australia's run chase was built on a foundation of composed half-centuries. Ellyse Perry (91) and Beth Mooney (36) laid the groundwork with a 61-run partnership, before Ash Gardner (40) and Jess Jonassen (48) provided the decisive late-order hitting to steer their team home.
England's bowlers, particularly the spin duo of Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn, fought valiantly to defend the total. They created pressure and took wickets, but the Australian batting depth ultimately proved to be the difference.
Series on a Knife's Edge
This result means England must now win both remaining ODIs in Southampton and Taunton to reclaim the Women's Ashes urn. The Australian victory not only gives them a numerical lead but also a significant psychological advantage heading into the final clashes.
While the team result will sting, Nat Sciver-Brunt's magnificent century under pressure will be remembered as one of the great individual performances in the storied history of the Women's Ashes, even if it ended on the losing side.
