Image: In the 1st T20I of the Women Ashes, Beth Mooney top-scored with 75 / © The Indian Express
The Women’s Ashes 2024-25 series kicked off with a thrilling encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Australia Women posted a challenging total of 198/7 in their 20 overs. England Women, who won the toss and elected to field, were put under pressure early by Beth Mooney, who played a match-defining knock of 75 runs off 51 balls. Mooney’s innings included 11 boundaries, and she maintained a strike rate of 147.05 before being dismissed and stumped off Freya Kemp’s bowling.
The other major contributors were Tahlia McGrath, who blasted 26 runs off 9 balls, and Phoebe Litchfield, who made 25 runs from 20 balls. Georgia Voll, making her T20I debut, contributed 21 runs off 11 balls. Australia faced a few setbacks, with wickets falling at regular intervals, but their total still proved imposing.
Freya Kemp was the standout bowler for England, claiming 1 wicket for 24 runs in her 3 overs. Sophie Ecclestone also shone with the ball, taking 2 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs. Lauren Bell and Charlie Dean picked up 2 wickets each, but the required run rate was always out of reach for England as they conceded runs freely.