The Ashes are within touching distance for Australia after Ashleigh Gardner’s maiden international century turned a stuttering innings into a comprehensive 86-run victory in Hobart to leave them 6-0 up and requiring just two points for retention.

Gardner’s run-a-ball century rescued Australia from 59 for 4 in conjunction with Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath, the latter made a 38-ball fifty, then they were launched over 300 by a late onslaught from the recalled Georgia Wareham.

In the chase, Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver-Brunt made half-centuries but both fell to Wareham in what became a starring return to the side. Then just as Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones were raising hopes of a dramatic push towards the target, Phoebe Litchfield produced a stunning diving catch running back from cover to remove Wyatt-Hodge.

After that, England faded quickly, losing 6 for 22 with Alana King taking a career-best 5 for 46 to make it nine wickets in the last two matches, and once again there was daylight between the sides. To cap her day, Gardner took one of the more remarkable boundary catches when she was able to toss the ball back at deep midwicket as she went over the rope, then dive full-length forward to grab the rebound.

It all meant that England were left needing to win all three T20Is and the Test to reclaim the Ashes for the first time since 2014.

To chase over 300, they needed someone to replicate Gardner’s superbly-paced century that had come up from 100 balls after she had sped through the 90s with consecutive boundaries off Sciver-Brunt. It was only the second ODI century ever to come from No. 6 or below.

McGrath’s role was also vital with Australia’s innings still in the balance at 154 for 5 when she joined Gardner. Her form has come under scrutiny in recent times, as she has shifted down the order to No. 7, so this was a timely performance from the vice-captain.

In all, 104 runs came off the final 10 overs in a formidable display of Australia’s batting depth. Sophie Ecclestone, who went for 17 off the last, finished with the second-most expensive figures of her ODI career with the top three all against Australia.

In a frenetic start to the game, England called on the DRS three times inside the first four overs, burning both reviews but getting the call right when Litchfield gloved a pull down the leg side after she had made a positive start with three crisp boundaries.

Shortly after they used up their reviews by going upstairs for a caught behind appeal against Ellyse Perry, she flicked a delivery off her pads straight to Lauren Filer at short fine leg with Lauren Bell’s muted celebration acknowledging it was more fortune than a plan.

Alyssa Healy had not been able to go through the gears during the powerplay and fell shortly before the restrictions ended when she pulled Sciver-Brunt to deep midwicket. Australia’s situation became more precarious when Annabel Sutherland completed a lean one-day series as she drove to mid-off, a similar dismissal to the second game in Melbourne.

The mantra of the Australian side is never to take a backward step even when faced with difficulties, and Gardner responded by lofting Ecclestone straight down the ground for six. Mooney then took two boundaries in three deliveries off Charlie Dean.

Gardner brought up her half-century from 53 balls and Mooney from 63. However, Mooney couldn’t convert when she tried to clear the off side against Dean and could only sky into the ring. But what was an opening for England was soon closed off by the skill and power of the Gardner-McGrath alliance in what were the best batting conditions of the series.
Megan Schutt struck in the first over of the chase when Maia Bouchier lofted to mid-off and England’s reply took a huge dent when Heather Knight edged behind with Healy taking a sharp chance standing up to the stumps.

Beaumont and Sciver-Brunt rebuilt through a stand of 89 in 18 overs but with such a hefty total to chase the run-rate pressure was always mounting. Beaumont upped her strike rate with three boundaries in six balls to reach fifty but was bowled off her pads in Wareham’s first over in ODIs since last March.

Not for the first time, Sciver-Brunt stood as the key figure. She went to a 53-ball fifty but couldn’t convert, beaten by a delivery from Wareham that skidded on into the stumps.
While the required rate hovered around eight an over it was not out of sight for England and four boundaries in four balls between Wyatt-Hodge and Jones suggested they, like Australia, may be able to make hay in the closing overs.

But then Wyatt-Hodge aimed to lift King over the off side, Litchfield ran back from cover, dived full length and held the catch as it came over her shoulder. Once again, Australia had seized a vital moment and with it were a step closer to seizing the Ashes.

Brief scores:
Australia Women 308 for 8 in 50 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 102, Tahlia McGrath 55, Beth Mooney 50, Georgia Wareham 38; Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-51, Charlie Dean 2-53, Lauren Bell 2-72) beat England Women 222 in 42.2 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 61, Tammy Beaumont 54, Danni WyattHodge 35, Amy Jones 30; Alana King 5-46, Megan Schutt 3-57, Georgia Wareham 2-27) by 86 runs

[Cricinfo]