Australia retained the Women's Ashes after beating England by 27 runs in the first ODI of the three-match series in Canberra. Australia now lead 8-4 in the multi-format series with two ODIs remaining.
Chasing 206, England put on a torrid batting show to be bundled out for 178 in 45 overs. They were down to 10/2 when captain Heather Knight was pinned leg before first ball by Darcie Brown in the fourth over. They lost wickets in regular intervals, and were never really in control. A 24-run last-wicket stand between Katherine Brunt (32*) and Kate Cross (17) ignited some hope, but Jess Jonassen finished things off by having Cross caught and bowled in the 45th over.
At one point, England looked confident when Amy Jones and Nat Sciver added 35 for the fourth wicket before Jones was controversially given out caught off what seemed to be a waist-high full toss, for 13. They slipped from 71/3 to 103/6 in quick time following Sciver’s dismissal, who was caught and bowled by Brown for 45.
For Australia, Brown picked up 4-34, while Megan Schutt, Jonassen, and Tahlia McGrath had two wickets each.
Earlier, Australia rode on Beth Mooney's 91-ball 73 to reach 205/9 after Knight asked them to bat. Mooney recovered her side from 67/4 after they lost three wickets for seven runs, adding 52 with Alana King for the eighth wicket to lift them from 152/7. Brunt and Cross were the picks of the English bowlers, taking three wickets each.
Australia Women 205/9 in 50 overs (Beth Mooney 73; Kate Cross 3-33) beat England Women 178 in 45 overs (Nat Sciver 45; Darcie Brown 4-34) by 27 runs. Player of the Match: Beth Mooney.