Summary

  • Australia retain Women's Ashes at earliest opportunity - report

  • England's last seven wickets fall for just 45 runs

  • Dunkley's 59 off 30 balls gives England brief hope

  • Australia pile up 198-7

  • Mooney hits 75 off 51 after being dropped on 16

  • First of three T20s, Sydney

Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham & Mike Peter

  1. Eng 69-3

    Sophia Dunkley's ball-striking has caught the eye but Heather Knight plays the shot of England's innings so far, stylishly driving Alana King inside out through over. That oozed class.

  2. How's stat?!

    Kieran Parmley
    Cricviz analyst

    England's powerplay score of 62-3 is their highest against Australia in T20Is and also the ninth time they've passed 60 in the powerplay since the start of 2023.

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    Roberto Colombi: The despair I can handle, it’s the hope that gets me every time!

  4. How's stat?!

    Kieran Parmley
    Cricviz analyst

    KingGetty Images

    Alana King has taken a wicket in her opening over in eight of her 23 T20I appearances.

  5. Eng 63-3

    Alana King versus Sophia Dunkley could be interesting here. Heather Knight pushes a single to get Dunkley on strike.

  6. Michelle Goszko
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    Sophia Dunkley's got nothing to lose here. It's good that she's taking on the Australians, she's been pretty much the only one.

  7. 6 runs

    Eng 62-3

    Kim Garth whipped out of the attack after being taken to task by Sophia Dunkley and is replaced by Annabel Sutherland.

    After three sighters, Dunkley times it beautifully off her legs to whip the Aussie all-rounder for six through square leg. Top shot.

    Dunkley finishes the over by charging Sutherland, then readjusting to powerfully cut her cover for four. Great timing again. England have missed this kind of aggressive strokeplay in their batting in the Ashes so far, the truth be told.

    WormCricviz/BBC

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    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Second England opener Wyatt-Hodge out without scoring

    Is anyone else partly hoping that England take an absolute beating in this series? Anything to shock them out of their complacency and hopefully cause changes to be made.

    Dave, London

  9. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    KingGetty Images

    Straight away, Alana King gets one to rag off this SCG surface. Nat Sciver-Brunt is bowled by a beauty - that is a ripper.

  10. Eng 50-3

    England manage to pick up a couple of leg byes of the remainder of Alana King's over. Slim pickings after Sophia Dunkley's biffing.

  11. Michelle Goszko
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    It didn't bounce - Nat Sciver-Brunt should probably have played that with a vertical bat rather than a horizontal one. I love T20 cricket, it can change in the space of a ball.

  12. wicket

    WICKET

    Sciver-Brunt b King 20 (Eng 48-3)

    Alana King strikes with her first ball!

    The leg-spinner has been superb in the ODIs and is full of confidence, although it's a dismissal which is much about batter error in truth.

    It's a fraction short from King, and Nat Sciver Brunt attempts to pull it, but the ball keeps low and clips the England batter's back leg before hitting the stumps.

  13. Ebony Rainford-Brent
    Former England batter on TNT Sports

    I keep saying Alana King is the best wrist-spinner in world cricket.

    It’s the revs, the rip and the ability for the captain to throw her the ball and know she’s going to make an impact. Truly special and it’s clear she’s loving every moment.

  14. Alana King into the attack. She's in form.

  15. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    Does it have the legs for a boundary? You bet it does - six more! Suddenly 151 from 96 seems eminently possible.

  16. 6 runs

    Eng 48-2

    Sophia Dunkley has the talent to do something special here. No doubt about it.

    She shows her 360 game and this time stylishly cuts Kim Garth through point for four.

    She bookends the over with another six. This time it's a bit more agricultural, the 'Yorkshire on-drive' as it were, as she slogs it high and over the ropes down the ground.

    England's Dunkley smashes 22 runs off one over

  17. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    Well, England are throwing some punches here!

  18. Michelle Goszko
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    When you are chasing a big total, you need to just go. You can't hand around waiting you have to just get on with it.

  19. 6 runs

    Eng 38-2

    Hellllooo!

    Sophia Dunkley spectacularly biffs Kim Garth for six back over her head.

    Next ball, Dunkley slog sweeps the Dublin-born seamer for another maximum over cow corner.

  20. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    Nat Sciver-Brunt is getting on top of Megan Schutt and trying to give England a chance. Schutt is struggling a little with this dominant leg-side player.