England fell just 27 runs short in pursuit of Australia’s 205 in the first ODI as Meg Lanning’s side retained the Ashes for the fourth time in a row as Beth Mooney scored her tenth ODI 50
The visitors won the toss and chose to bowl first, there were three wickets a piece for Katherine Brunt and Kate Cross, but Mooney’s impressive 73 ensured the hosts reached a sub-par 205 from their 50 overs.
England’s reply contained fits and starts, the ever reliable Nat Sciver reached 45 but the wickets continued to fall consistently for the touring side who were all-out for 178 with five overs left face.
After Australia won the only completed T20 and the stand alone test match ended a draw, their win in the first ODI guarantees they’ll retain the Ashes even with two matches left to play.
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Anya Shrubsole gave Heather Knight’s side the perfect start, finding the top edge of Rachael Haynes’s bat in the third over leaving wicket-keeper Amy Jones to take a simple catch.
Australia rebuilt to 60-1 until the skipper Meg Lanning was bowled by Kate Cross, only to have Ellyse Perry join her in the changing room having chipped back to Sophie Ecclestone for a golden-duck.
Mooney came to the crease and steadied the ship around her with a superb 73 including eight fours and a six before being caught at mid-off from the last ball of the innings, setting the Three Lions 206 to win and keep their Ashes hopes alive.
But things couldn’t have got off to a much worse start as England lost Tammy Beaumont and Knight in consecutive balls to leave them 10-2 after three overs.
That seemed to set the tone for the rest of the England innings as wickets continued to fall every few overs with no-one other than Sciver really managing to get going.
A late flurry from Brunt who finished on 32* gave England hope of reaching the required total but the all-rounder ran out of partners when Cross was caught and bowled by Jess Jonassen to ensure that the urn would remain in Australia.
The second of the three One Day Internationals gets underway on Saturday, February 6 in Melbourne with the final match of the series taking place on Monday, February 7.
