Australia win 2023 Women’s Ashes series with with nail-biting one-day victory over England

Australia retained the Women’s Ashes with a three-run win over England on Sunday.

Chasing 282, Nat Sciver-Brunt had given the home side hope when she scored 111 from just 99 balls, moving them from 203-7, to need 15 runs from the final over.

From there England moved to needing five off the last ball, but Jess Jonassen – bowling the last ball of the series – guided her side to the win.

With Australia leading the series 8-6, and with another match still to play, there is no way for England to do better than draw overall, which would leave Australia as winners as they hold the urn already.

Speaking after the win, Australia captain Alyssa Healy said: “It was a really, really good game of cricket. Both sides really hung in there and Nat Sciver-Brunt, yet again, played an incredible innings – I thought she was going to take it away from us at the end.

“But full credit to our girls, they showed all their grit and determination again and we got ourselves over the line.

“To know that the Ashes are coming home with us is hugely exciting.”

England captain Heather Knight told the BBC: “It’s been a ridiculous series, and has to go down as the best ever in history.

“How Nat played to get so close was brilliant. To nearly chase down that total was really good.

“Our focus now is to win both white-ball series. We’re gutted we weren’t able to keep the momentum.”