Healy and in-form Gardner give Australia opening points of Ashes battle
England were guilty of wasting starts with the bat and then dropped crucial chances in the field
England were guilty of wasting starts with the bat and then dropped crucial chances in the field
Scorer: Binoy George | Commentator: Alex Malcolm
Australia take a two-point lead in the multiformat series. Both teams head to Melbourne for the second ODI on Tuesday at the Junction Oval. Keep an eye out for Valkerie Baynes' post-match coverage from Sydney. On behalf of Andrew McGlashan and Binoy George, thanks for your company today.
Ash Gardner is player of match for 3 for 19 and 42 not out: "I just tried to keep the stumps in play with my variations, whether that was turn and bounce or lack of turn, just trying to play into that natural variation. Then obviously with the bat it was trying to counteract that. We know Sophie Ecclestone plays a huge role for them and just being able to counteract that and play good shots off good balls. It was an unusual pitch for North Sydney. A lot more turn than what we're used to. There was a little bit of tennis-ball bounce. Probably thought it would flatten which it didn't do, but it played into our hands. I've actually got some tennis elbow in my [left arm] which is pretty annoying but it's not restricting me too much."
4.52pm Australia win by four wickets with 67 balls to spare. Australia are comfortable winners in the end but they were hardly flawless. England did not play well at all but stayed in it until Ecclestone dropped Gardner. Australia's bowlers were disciplined and England's batters threw away starts in posting an under par 204. Australia's chase was held together by Alyssa Healy who made an excellent 70. Gardner guided the chase home with 42 not out but they lost a few more wickets than they would have liked.
Sampath Bandarupalli: Most times scoring 30-plus runs and taking 3-plus wickets in a Women's ODI: 8 - Ellyse Perry 8 - Stafanie Taylor 7 - Ashleigh Gardner
NSB with the keeper up
Three to win for Australia
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England were guilty of wasting starts with the bat and then dropped crucial chances in the field
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