Ruthless Australia complete record chase to thrash England in opening Women's Ashes T20

• England bat first and set hosts 170 for victory

• McGrath pick of Australia attack with three for 26

• ​McGrath then stars with the bat at Australia complete record chase with three overs to spare to win by nine wickets

If pre-match it was all about the absence of one Australia all-rounder, Ellyse Perry, by the end it was only about another as Tahlia McGrath put on an all-round clinic to guide Australia to their highest ever successful run chase. It takes a special individual to make Australia’s captain, Meg Lanning, look tame but that’s exactly what McGrath did. The 26-year-old smashed an unbeaten 91 from just 49 balls to propel Australia past England’s 169 with three overs still remaining.

Australia’s men might have been searching for a fast-bowling all-rounder for the past sixty years, but their women appear to have a production line of them. First came the bowling, as McGrath dismissed England’s two most dangerous batters, Danni Wyatt (70 from 54) and Nat Sciver (32 from 23), with two searing yorkers in the same over, before rounding things off with a cool three wickets for 26. Then came the batting, as McGrath strode to the crease in Australia’s fourth over with a record-breaking task on her hands.

No matter that Australia had already lost the world’s best batter Beth Mooney to a broken jaw pre-game. Or that Alyssa Healy, their other explosive trump card at the top of the order, had departed for just seven. McGrath took everything in her stride – and it’s a big stride – as she played the ball confidently, crunchingly, and all around the park. She doesn’t appear to have a chink in her armour. In fact, in T20Is, McGrath is faultless; she is yet to be dismissed in the format, her previous two T20I innings producing unbeaten scores of 42 and 44 not out before Thursday’s effort. Her strike rate, by the way, was 186.

“Luckily I’m not in bowlers’ meetings,” said England’s Tammy Beaumont, post-match. “[McGrath] is just quite a hard batter to bowl at. She seems to move around a lot, so you’re trying to hit off-stump and she’s hitting that through cover and backward point. Then you bring square leg up and she’s moving over to the off-side. We’ll come back with something for sure and, you know, there are two games left, so we’ll try and give her an average – a pretty high one, by the sound of it.”

The turning point, or at least the stage in the match where we realised that Australia might just do this, that they might successfully chase down their highest ever total, came in the tenth over. Australia had just about kept up with England’s run rate until then but it was a thumping, flat six over mid-wicket, struck sweetly and with the sound ringing around the cavernous stadium that made us all sit up and watch. McGrath isn’t a talent for the future, she is a talent of now.

Meg Lanning, possibly Australia’s best ever batter, and opening the batting for the first time in almost four years in T20Is, registered her 38-ball half century in the 16th over and we hardly even noticed. We’re not here for you, Meg. It was all McGrath.

Earlier, Beaumont (30 from 24) and Wyatt had put on an opening 82-run partnership, the highest of any side in either the men’s or the women’s Ashes in this Australian summer. It was also their highest, ever, against Australia in the format. The pitch, undoubtedly, was a good one but this was the cruellest of results for an England who had come here energised and flying, despite the chaotic Covid-affected preparation. To set such a towering total and see it crumble so easily is surely the most demoralising result of the lot.

“It’s a tough one,” conceded Beaumont. “You know that you’ve played quite well, but there are definitely areas to improve. But at the same time we wanted to come toe-to-toe with Australia and compete with them. And I think that they were surprised, in the field. You saw some mistakes from them. We started well but we’ve just got to try and get over the line.”

Australia picked off England’s 169 with three whole overs remaining and their all-round package, on top of McGrath, is quite the force to contend with. Leg spinner Alana King impressed on debut, landing Beaumont caught and bowled for her maiden international wicket while the hosts’ opening bowler, Tayla Vlaeminck, reached speeds of 76 mph, the fastest in the women’s game. While Beaumont and Wyatt navigated Vlaeminck comfortably enough, hitting 18 from her first two overs, the sheer sight of this speed in motion added a sense of jeopardy which remains a rare occurrence in the women’s game.

Beaumont, at least, was well aware of it when a particularly vicious bouncer struck her on the helmet in the second over and England’s medic was called out to assess things. No damage done but a welcome progression, all-in-all.

England’s bowlers, by contrast, have nothing to write home about. Just one, Sophie Ecclestone, picked up a wicket and if England’s batters showed no signs of rust, then it’s because they’d offloaded it all onto the opposite discipline. That said, with McGrath to contend with, maybe it wasn’t all that surprising. This could be an awfully long tour; we go again on Saturday.

Australia thrash England in opening T20 - as it happened

11:34 AM

Australia captain Meg Lanning speaks...

On the brilliant all-round performance of Tahlia McGrath…

On Alana King’s debut…

11:31 AM

Heather Knight speaks

"The way that Danni Wyatt and Tammy Beaumont came out and batted was outstanding, especially seeming they said they felt a bit rusty. We thought we got to about par with the bat. The pitch got slightly better in the chase, but we'll take the positives. They batted outstandingly and Tahlia McGrath made it difficult to set fields and moved around in the crease a lot so we'll have to learn from that ahead of Saturday."

11:26 AM

The shot that won it

Dominant from Australia.

Meg Lanning (64*) & Tahlia McGrath (91*) guide the hosts to a comprehensive 9-wicket victory in Adelaide 👏🇦🇺#Ashes pic.twitter.com/Ruc8uUG0IN

— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) January 20, 2022

11:18 AM

AUSTRALIA WIN - AUS 170/1 (Lanning 64 McGrath 91)

McGrath sweeps for a fine four, she then repeats the trick as Knight (who has something of a golden arm) bowls down leg. McGrath is searching for what would be a brilliant, much-deserved ton…

But Lanning doesn’t care about personal landmarks as she doesn’t read the script and cuts for four.

The very next ball Lanning then hits a four to mid-wicket and that’s it done and dusted.

WOW - that was a record run chase and it was done elegantly and effortlessly with three overs still to spare . That’s a huge statement from Australia there.

AUSTRALIA WIN BY NINE WICKETS

11:12 AM

OVER 16: AUS 153/1 (Lanning 56 McGrath 82)

One comes from Ecclestone’s first two balls before she gives Lanning too much width and the opener rocks back and plays a cut for four that would make the MCC textbook beam with pride. This pair have run well and once again turn a one into two as Lanning pushes one into leg. Eight from the over and the hosts are cantering to victory in Adelaide.

Australia need 17 off 24 balls.

11:08 AM

OVER 15: AUS 145/1 (Lanning 50 McGrath 81)

Three runs come off the first three balls off Davies’ over before Lanning hits the spinner over the infield for four to the mid-off boundary. A wide then follows and it’s hard to see how the hosts don’t win this.

This has been an impressive display by both Lanning, who has her 50 off 38 balls, and McGrath. There’s another wide and there extras column is too many - England cannot afford to gift the hosts easy runs.

Australia need 25 off 30 balls at 5 an over.

11:04 AM

OVER 14: AUS 134/1 (Lanning 44 McGrath 78)

Sciver returns but cannot stop the runs coming off the bat - McGrath hasn’t missed out on anything today and again dispatches a short ball to the boundary.

Twelve from the over.

Australia now need just 36 off 36 balls at 6 and this record runs-chase is well and truly on.

10:59 AM

OVER 13: AUS 121/1 (Lanning 43 McGrath 70)

Brunt is hit for two singles before she bowls a wide down leg. The run rate has tumbled from an intimidating nine an over to a more-pleasing seven (if you’re Australian, that is…).

Another single follows before McGrath plays an effortless drive between mid-off and extra cover for yet another boundary. England have no answer to this pair and, in particular, the brilliant McGrath. The partnership is now 95 and it’s been a joy to watch.

Australia need 49 off 42 balls

10:53 AM

OVER 12: AUS 112/1 (Lanning 41 McGrath 64)

The 100 comes up for Australia as the runs continue to flow for the hosts.

Glenn then wraps McGrath on the back leg as the Aussie tried to sweep. It’s given not out on the pitch and England review - it looks as though it’s going down leg. The replay shows that the ball would have clipped but it’s umpire’s call and McGrath survives. England need some luck right now...

Fifteen from the over and this partnership is now worth 86 from 49 balls - tasty.

Australia need 58 runs off 48 balls at 7.25

10:49 AM

McGrath is having some match

Wickets and now runs!

10:48 AM

OVER 11: AUS 97/1 (Lanning 36 McGrath 54)

There’s a four off the bat from McGrath before the Aussie pair attempt a quick single - and Lanning is forced to dive into the crease. They go upstairs and the replay shows it’s very tight. It could go either way BUT the opener just made it back - that was a matter of millimetres…

Eccelstone is the go-to bowler for Knight when trying to stem the flow of runs but the runs are still flowing and McGrath reaches 50 (off 28 balls). Another four - a delightful late cut - follows and the hosts are now on top. England need a wicket.

Australia need 73 off 54 balls at 8.11

10:41 AM

OVER 10: AUS 85/1 (Lanning 36 McGrath 42)

Lanning hits two twos the first two deliveries of this Davies over. That’s the 50 partnership and it’s come off 33 balls - the hosts need it to continue.

McGrath is opening up and smokes one for six to cow cover - she is going up a gear now and is 42 off 23 balls as groundstaff search for the ball in the stand. That’s 53 runs off the past five overs - is the match tipping the hosts’ way?

Australia need 85 off 60 balls at 8.50

10:36 AM

OVER 9: AUS 73/1 (Lanning 33 McGrath 33)

Glenn induces the drive from Lanning, it’s uppish and in the air and just misses the mitts of a diving Heather Knight at extra-cover. It’s a much-needed four for the hosts.

McGrath then gives herself room and drives down the ground for four that’s then followed up with a boundary to deep square-leg as the runs flow now for the Australians.

In trying to stop that last four Maia Bouchier hurts her knee and there’s a stoppage to make sure she’s OK. She, thankfully, is and that’s 13 runs from the over.

Australia need 99 runs off 67 balls at 8.82

10:30 AM

OVER 8: AUS 58/1 (Lanning 28 McGrath 23)

Sciver wraps the back thigh of McGrath and appeals - it’s give not out and England don’t decide to review…might have been worth a shout. The replay shows it would have been umpire’s call…Seven from the over and this is going well for the tourists.

Australia need 112 runs off 72 balls at 9.33

10:26 AM

OVER 7: AUS 51/1 (Lanning 25 McGrath 19)

The impressive Sarah Glenn joins the attack, four runs come from the first four balls before there’s what seems like the slightest of edges (it’s not clear) that isn’t taken by Amy Jones behind the stumps.

10:22 AM

OVER 6: AUS 42/1 (Lanning 21 McGrath 14)

The last over of the powerplay sees Brunt give McGrath width and the Australian frees her arms and cuts for four. Two balls later there’s a full toss that she hits deep to mid-wicket for two, good positive start from McGrath, who was the pick of the hosts’ bowlers, with the bat.

McGrath then swings the bat and finds the gap between mid-wicket and long on for another four. Ten from the over.

Australia need 128 off 84 balls at 9.14

10:18 AM

OVER 5: AUS 32/1 (Lanning 21 McGrath 4)

Freya Davies comes into the attack and six ‘quiet’ runs come from the over.

10:14 AM

OVER 4: AUS 26/1 (Lanning 19 McGrath 0)

That was the over England were looking for - Ecclestone has started well and got the early breakthrough.

10:12 AM

Wicket! Healy c Sciver b Ecclestone 7

Ecclestone continues with her left-arm spin and there’s just a single from her first three balls before Landing scampers a very quick, tight single. They make it and are managing to rotate the strike well. BUT THEN Healy slashes one low to short mid-wicket and Sciver takes a great sharp catch!

FOW - 26/1

10:09 AM

OVER 3: AUS 24/0 (Lanning 18 Healy 6)

Nat Sciver comes on and pitches too short allowing Lanning to rock back and pull for four to the mid-wicket boundary. Again Sciver is too short and Lanning this time pulls for three. Following a Healy single Sciver then gives Lanning too much width and the Australian cuts for two. Twelve from the over.

Australia need 146 to win off 102 balls

10:05 AM

OVER 2: AUS 12/0 (Lanning 7 Healy 5)

Sophie Ecclestone’s left-arm spin is what the Australians have to face second over. Lanning edges one for four down to third man first up - that was less than authoritative but she won’t mind that too much. Three singles follow and that’s six from the over.

Australia need 159 to win off 108 balls at 8.78 per over.

10:02 AM

OVER 1: AUS 5/0 (Lanning 1 Healy 4)

This is a new opening partnership for the hosts, Brunt has the new ball for England and third delivery gives Healy a freebie down leg side that the Aussie glances elegantly for four. That and a Lanning single are the only runs from the opening over.

Australia need 165 to win off 114 balls at 8.65 per over.

09:58 AM

The players are back out

And Australia's reply is about to get under way.

09:56 AM

Solid and stylish from Scriver

Nat Sciver did well for her 32 runs from 23 balls, taking the game, with Wyatt, to the Australians.

09:50 AM

Another good Australia bowler called McGrath

Tahlia McGrath was easily the pick of the Australia attack, taking three for 26 from her four overs. She got both Scriver and Wyatt with brilliant yorkers, the second of which is below for you to enjoy.

09:46 AM

OVER 20: ENG 169/4 (Knight 10 Dunkley 10)

Last over and apparently the Australians have been too slow with the over rate and so are only allowed three fielders outside the 30-yard ring for this final over. That is a new rule in international cricket and mirrors rules from The Hundred his summer.

Schutt has the ball in her hand and bowls a full toss that Knight capitalises on with a four to square-leg. There are 10 runs from the over before Dunkley finds the gap with a drive last ball for a welcome final-ball four.

While the hosts did well to peg the tourists back in the final six or so overs that is a fine batting display from the tourists, who have set Australia a tough 170 for victory.

09:40 AM

OVER 19: ENG 155/4 (Knight 5 Dunkley 1)

McGrath has done brilliantly this spell and single-handedly pegged back England - she ends with figures of three for 26.

09:38 AM

Wicket! Jones c Harris b McGrath 4

McGrath is bowling to Jones who plays a fine shot to deep mid-wicket that Carey does well to stop - every run counts and that was a fine stop by the Australian in the deep. Next ball Jones tries to repeat the trick but only finds the hands of Grace Harris.

FOW - 154/4

09:35 AM

OVER 18: ENG 147/3 (Knight 4 Jones 2)

King can now bowl at two new batters and does well - just five off the over when England want/need to accelerate.

The leggie has had a good debut.

09:32 AM

OVER 17: ENG 142/3 (Knight 1 Jones 0)

That was just what the doctor ordered for Australia - two wickets and two new batters at the crease.

09:31 AM

Wicket! Wyatt b McGrath 70

Australia have taken the key wicket of Wyatt - another full yorker sees Wyatt clean bowled. This is the over the hosts were looking for.

FOW - 142-3

09:29 AM

Men take note

Burns & Crawley - 68
Beaumont & Wyatt - 82

England's Women hit the highest opening partnership of the Ashes winter, in their first innings of the series.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/miE9PPGvdK

— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) January 20, 2022

09:29 AM

Wicket! Sciver b McGrath 32

Just what the hosts needed - a full and straight delivery from McGrath beats the dangerous Sciver, looking for quick runs, all ends up.

FOW - 141-2

09:27 AM

OVER 16: ENG 136/1 (Sciver 28 Wyatt 69)

Carey returns and starts with a leg-side long hop that Sciver dispatches with ease for four to deep square-leg. That’s not the start Carey would have been looking for.

Sciver then gives herself room and hits it on top of the bounce for a four through the covers - what a shot, I could watch that all day. Sciver has looked a bit scratchy since she’s come in but she’s now gone up a gear or two. That’s the 50-partnership in just 36 balls - that sums the innings up for the hosts - they just haven’t been able to exert any pressure on the tourists.

09:23 AM

OVER 15: ENG 120/1 (Sciver 12 Wyatt 69)

England are moving the scoreboard along without any real trouble. With five overs to go and eight wickets in hand they’ll be looking to explode these next few overs and really set the hosts a tough target.

09:19 AM

OVER 14: ENG 111/1 (Sciver 6 Wyatt 67)

Schutt returns and immediately wraps Sciver on the pads - it’s given out and to the naked eye looks plumb. The England batter immediately reviews (the second ever DRS!) - she must have got something on that and, indeed, the replay shows that there was the thinnest of edges and Sciver survives.

A single, pushed to mid-wicket, follows to get the in-form Wyatt on strike and straight away she gives herself room and hits over the infield to deep extra cover for two.

09:14 AM

OVER 13: ENG 106/1 (Sciver 5 Wyatt 63)

King, who’s had a fine start to her international career, continues and is greeted with a slog sweep for four down the ground. King then bowls what looks like a wide, but isn’t given. She then wraps the England opener on the pad while Wyatt was sweeping - it’s given not out and FOR THE FIRST TIME the DRS is used! It looks not out - hitting outside the line - and the replay confirms that. History is made BUT the DRS doesn’t give the hosts the wicket they’re searching for. The leg bye brings the 100 up for England.

Wyatt then celebrates the ton with a big six to cow corner (her third) - she’s really enjoying herself out there.

09:07 AM

OVER 12: ENG 93/1 (Sciver 6 Wyatt 50)

Since that Beaumont wicket Australia have just stemmed the flow of runs - what they so needed. Just four runs come off the bat in Vlaeminck’s final over. But the tourists are still on top and will now look to move the scoreboard on with eight overs to go.

09:02 AM

OVER 11: ENG 85/1 (Sciver 2 Wyatt 50)

That wicket was much-needed and Nat Sciver comes to the crease with five balls to come. She’s off the mark with a single second ball. That gets the in-form Wyatt on strike and another single - this one down the ground - gets her to 50 - it’s been a great knock, measured early on before accelerating from 20 onwards.

08:58 AM

Wicket! Beaumont c&b King 30

King gets one to dig in the pitch and the England opener can only prod the ball back to the leggie who takes the catch and her first wicket in international cricket - just what the hosts needed.

FOW - 82/1

08:56 AM

OVER 10: ENG 82/0 (Beaumont 30 Wyatt 49)

Australia are struggling to plug the runs - McGrath is hit for four over extra cover by Wyatt who then nudges a single to mid-wicket to move to 49.

At the halfway stage the tourists are well on top (how often have we been able to say that this winter? NONE!).

08:53 AM

Big hitting from Wyatt!

"That's beautiful hitting" 🚀

Back-to-back sixes for @Danni_Wyatt 🙌

Superb striking from the England opener 👏#Ashes pic.twitter.com/RexzWE5fTI

— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) January 20, 2022

08:52 AM

OVER 9: ENG 74/0 (Beaumont 28 Wyatt 43)

The Australians haven’t got their lengths right so far, Vlaeminck returns and first up bowls a pie - short and wide of off stump - that fortunately for her is only cut for a single by Beaumont. Another single - from a late cut, again a ball too short - follows.

Four from the over - better for the hosts, but England are well on top at the moment.

08:48 AM

OVER 8: ENG 70/0 (Beaumont 26 Wyatt 41)

Alana King has the ball and is about to bowl here first over in international cricket. The leggie starts well with just four singles from her first four deliveries. Wyatt then goes over the infield for four to deep mid-wicket. Eight from the over.

08:44 AM

OVER 7: ENG 62/0 (Beaumont 24 Wyatt 35)

Nicola Carey has the ball now and she strays legside first up and Wyatt doesn’t look this gift horse in the mouth hitting it to the boundary. Wyatt is in the grove now hitting the next two deliveries for a two and another four, this one down the ground.

There were fears England were coming into the match undercooked but this is just the start they would have dreamed of. The openers are batting beautifully, they are out the blocks early

08:40 AM

OVER 6: ENG 51/0 (Beaumont 24 Wyatt 24)

The 50-opening stand is brought up since six overs - impressive. Schutt attacking the stumps well that over - seven from that set of six deliveries.

08:37 AM

OVER 5: ENG 44/0 (Beaumont 24 Wyatt 18)

It’s time for spin and first ball it’s time for the first six of the match as Wyatt comes down the pitch for a maximum over Jonassen’s head. Next ball it’s a case of deja vu as Wyatt again deposits the left-arm spinner for another six down the ground.

How can Jess Jonassen respond? She comes over wicket and there are three singles from the rest of the over. Fifteen from that over.

08:32 AM

OVER 4: ENG 29/0 (Beaumont 22 Wyatt 4)

It’s too short from Vlaeminck and Beaumont is onto it like a flash hitting it to the boundary. Vlaeminck then strays to leg and Beaumont leg-glances for four, she then pulls for another boundary last ball of the over - good start from the England opener who, remember, coped one on the helmet early on. Fourteen from the over.

08:29 AM

Here's that vicious Vlaeminck ball

Ouch!

Thankfully Tammy Beaumont is all smiles after this nasty bumper from Tayla Vlaeminck #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ZJ7bDTkoFM

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 20, 2022

08:27 AM

OVER 3: ENG 15/0 (Beaumont 10 Wyatt 3)

Schutt who took the first over has already been replaced by Tahlia McGrath. Bit of a strange decision with Schutt so dangerous with the new ball. Good start from McGrath, however, bowling great line and length.

Wyatt reaches for one outside off-stump for a single. Both these batters are explosive but have been quiet so far.

As soon as I write that Beaumont ramps over the wicketkeeper’s head for four. Next up she smashes the ball back to McGrath - it’s a tough caught and bowled chance but it was a chance.

08:22 AM

OVER 2: ENG 7/0 (Beaumont 4 Wyatt 2)

Vlaeminck has the ball second over and with her their ball bowls a bounder that rattles Beaumont on the grill - that was a brute of a ball. The England batter looks ok after the medical team come out onto the field.

It’s windy in Adelaide and Vlaeminck is being aggressive out there, she brings a bit of X-factor to this Australian attack. Fifth ball Beaumont pulls well for three to cow corner, a bit of authority from the England batter there. Four from the over

08:17 AM

OVER 1: ENG 3/0 (Beaumont 1 Wyatt 2)

Quiet opening over with three runs from the bat to get the series under way.

08:16 AM

We’ve had the national anthems

And we're good to go!

08:15 AM

The teams

England XI: Danni Wyatt, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver, Amy Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Sarah Glenn, Sophie Ecclestone, Freya Davies

Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tayla Vlaeminck, Megan Schutt

The big news is that the hosts have dropped Ellyse Perry!

08:14 AM

England looking for fast start

Heather Knight has urged England to be aggressive and "punch first" against Australia in the first Twenty20 of the Women's Ashes on Thursday.

England go into the series as underdogs, with the hosts the dominant force in women's cricket, ranked number one in the world as well as being T20 World Cup holders.

Meg Lanning's side have not been beaten in any series since the 2013-14 Ashes, while Knight's England managed just a single T20 victory when the sides last met in 2019, although the only Test match was drawn.

The multi-format series, which has been brought forward by a week, will start with three T20 games at the Adelaide Oval and Knight emphasised the importance of a strong start.

"I think it's important to start any series well, it's something we've addressed as a side. I think the last few years we've really looked to go hard at that first game," the England captain said.

"It's previously been a weakness of ours, so I think we've responded really well actually and we've been really successful in first games of the series recently. You've just got to find that intensity and find a way to get yourself in the game.

"There's obviously going to be nerves around, that's completely normal for a big game of a series like this, but we're confident that we can cope with that and try and be really aggressive and punch first against Australia."

England's preparation time has been dented by the mandatory 10-day quarantine they will have to observe on arrival in New Zealand for their World Cup defence in March.

Their first training session in Canberra was washed out and their only scheduled 50-over intra-squad warm-up match reduced to just 35 overs, again because of rain, but Knight believes England can succeed in the shorter format.

"There has been that tricky build-up, but there's not a lot we can do about it, there's no point moaning about it and using it as an excuse," Knight said.

"We feel in a really good place. T20 cricket is one of our strongest formats, so I think that will suit us quite nicely. We're really clear about how we want to go about our T20 cricket and a lot of us have got experience playing T20 over here as well with the Big Bash and previous Ashes trips.

"So the confidence is high, we had a really good training session yesterday and hopefully another one later tonight in the evening and we'll be all good to go tomorrow."