Women’s Ashes: Nat Sciver-Brunt stars as England clinch 69-run victory over Australia to draw series

Australia suffered their first one-day international series defeat since 2013 after England clinched a 69-run victory in a rain-affected match at Taunton.

Holders Australia retain the Ashes after their win in Sunday’s second ODI, but England’s victory ensured the multi-format series ended in a 8-8 draw.

Nat Sciver-Brunt hit her second successive ODI century against Australia and her fourth in five ODI meetings with Australia.

“I’m not sure (how I do it),” Sciver-Brunt said afterwards.

“Tried to take it ball by ball today. I came in in pretty difficult conditions. They got two quick wickets so me and Heather needed to rebuild a bit.

“We got a good partnership together and I was glad to be taking it to them still.

“I think we can all be really proud of ourselves and proud of what we’ve achieved and how we’ve really gone about it.”

England captain Heather Knight said: “Hugely pleased, it’s a draw isn’t it, and we’ve got two trophies against the world champions, which is really special.

“I think the way that the group has turned it around after the Ageas Bowl, it was a pretty quiet bus journey, on the way here there was a lot of emotion and disappointment that the Ashes had slipped away, but I think credit to the group, and to the staff, the way they’ve turned it around and really turned up today.

“We wanted to continue playing how we had all series. We wanted to entertain and inspire this crowd that had come out to support us. We owed it to everyone to try to do that, and obviously there was a lot on the line still.

“I’m hugely impressed by how the girls have done that and very happy to be finishing with a draw.”

World champions Australia were set a target of 269 in 44 overs after rain interrupted their chase of England’s 285-9.

England continued to take regular wickets and Australia slipped from 190-6 to 199 all out.

Australia lost their opening partnership early and slipped to 15-2 before Ellyse Perry had stands of 53 and 45 with Tahlia McGrath and Beth Mooney.

Ash Gardner recorded 41 from 24 balls before she was 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.

Sciver-Brunt’s sensational innings came after England slipped to 12-2 and she added a stand of 147 with skipper Heather Knight who made 67.

Wyatt then added 43 from 25 balls to help England set their highest ever ODI total against Australia at home.

The result brought an end to the most closely-fought ashes since 2017. England have not won the Ashes for a decade.