Women Ashes Series Highlights: England win 1st ODI [VIDEO]

In the multi-format women Ashes series, England defeated Australia by four wickets in Taunton to take early advantage in the series.

A flowing half-century from Natalie Sciver helped the hosts in registering a comprehensive win with 26 balls to spare in the first match of women Ashes series.

Australia, after winning the toss, posted an under-par 239 on the board, courtesy half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Alex Blackwell.

The duo made a 121-run partnership for the fourth wicket, after Australia lost their top-order inside 12 overs. Elyse Villani, Jess Jonassen and Meg Lanning were dismissed cheaply.

Just when Australia were looking cruising toward a good total, England stuck back with four run outs and that’s where they lost the momentum.

“The conditions were really tough because the outfield was so incredibly quick,” Perry said. “But they showed great ability to hit the stumps for those run outs and all credit to them.”

“We didn’t have a great start with the bat and that was probably the difference, in the end,” she added.

Chasing was never going to be a trouble for England, but they made it a little tough in the beginning when their top-order crumbled. Lydia Greenway, meanwhile, put England back on track with a gritty fifty, along with Sciver.

“We talked about starting the series well,” Edwards said. “It’s something we haven’t done in the past. We’ve done it as perfectly as we could have today. I thought we started brilliantly with the ball.”

“Our fielding was outstanding at times and then that partnership between Sciver and Greenway was absolutely brilliant. And for Georgia Elwiss to come in and show her talent at the end was fantastic.”

The women Ashes series format has been changed from last series, as the points have been reduced from six to four for winning the one-off Test match. However, winning the limited-over games will give two points.