Summary

  • Australia retain Ashes following narrow three-run win

  • Highlights on BBC iPlayer & BBC Two from 23:00 BST (Sunday)

  • Tourists now lead points-based multi-format series 8-6 with one ODI to play

  • Sciver-Brunt's brilliant 111* off 99 balls keeps England in contention

  • Australia's spinners take all wickets to fall

  • Beaumont (60) gets England off to good start

  • Wareham hammers 26 off final over as Australia post 282-7

  • Perry makes 91 after England fail to take three chances

  • Bell takes three wickets for England but proves expensive (3-85 off 9)

  1. Postpublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Time for us to call it a day.

    I'll leave you with Ffion Wynne's report from the Ageas Bowl as Australia retain the Women's Ashes with a nail-biting three-run win.

    You can watch highlights of the game on BBC Two and iPlayer from 23:00 BST. They are well worth a watch, it was another cracking game of cricket.

    Want to watch some action now? The best moments are below for you to enjoy.

    We'll be back with the final ODI - and game in this Women's Ashes series - on Tuesday from 12:30 BST.

    Before then don't forget to pick your team of the series. The choice is getting tougher and tougher.

    We'll see you on Tuesday!

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    #bbccricket

    Janet Hopper: Love seeing these players taking time have selfies and autographs with fans after this result. Now they can believe they can beat the Aussies... No fear anymore. Bring on Taunton and sending Australia off with a loss in ODI series.

    Roberto Colombi: Heartbreaking - soooo close! But there’s nothing between these teams now (except maybe fielding/catching) - the Aussie invincibility era is coming to an end… roll on the next ashes.

    Fred Titmus (not really): What an incredible game of cricket. What a series! What a summer we're being treated to!

  3. Postpublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Alex Blackwell
    Former Australia batter on BBC Test Match Special

    Nat Sciver-BruntImage source, Getty Images

    I haven't seen a tighter series between these two, it's been outstanding. England should be very, very proud. They were 6-0 down after the first T20 and they found a way to level it. A special day for Nat Sciver-Brunt, her third century. She needed more off that last ball.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:26 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

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

    Mistake by Heather Knight to bowl Lauren Bell for the last over. Sophia Dunkley chewed up too many balls. Fielding could have been better. Having said that didn’t think England would get so close. Still the ODI series to play for at Taunton.

    Anon

  5. 'We're blessed with 15 amazing players'published at 18:23 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    More from Australia captain Alyssa Healy...

    On Georgia Wareham's innings: "You talk about momentum in games and series and that actually swung the momentum back into our changing room. There was a bit of a buzz and we were up and about - that definitely helps. It turned crucial at the back end."

    On squad depth: "Hugely important. Darcie [Brown] has put in a pretty huge shift up front but for Alana King to come into the side and contribute straight away shows the depth we've got in Australian cricket.

    "We're blessed with 15 amazing players and there are still four sitting on the bench wanting to get a go. So we're lucky and I've got no doubt that any of the 15 can do the job when required."

  6. 'We still haven't played our best cricket'published at 18:21 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Australia captain Alyssa Healy: "Not relief, I just thought it was a really, really good game of cricket. Both sides really hung in there and Nat Sciver-Brunt, yet again, played an incredible innings - I thought she was going to take it away from us at the end.

    "But full credit to our girls, they showed all their grit and determination again and we got ourselves over the line."

    On the end of the chase: "A little stressful! I'm happy to hand [the captaincy] back over to Meg [Lanning] at any opportunity! But no, I enjoyed it. As a group, we pride ourselves on winning those those little key moments in games and I think we were able to do that again.

    "The girls at the back end backed their abilities to bowl at the death. They did just that - it makes it really easy for me because they're set on their plans and their fields. It's stressful but we've been in similar positions before and got over the line so we just trusted that."

    On retaining the Ashes: "We still haven't played our best cricket which is a little bit scary at times but we're obviously really chuffed. We came here to win the Ashes, we've retained them so far but there's still one game to go so we're ready to put our best foot forward again.

    "But to know that the Ashes are coming home with us is hugely exciting. Full credit to the group for getting it done."

  7. Postpublished at 18:19 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    England again didn't have their best day in the field.

    They have put down a fair few catches in the white-ball series now and that is definitely an area that Heather Knight and Jon Lewis will be targeting to tighten up on in the future.

    Alex Hartley said on TMS commentary that England have been chased 235-240 rather than 283 and they would almost certainly have won that, and with quite a bit in hand too.

  8. Postpublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Alex Blackwell
    Former Australia batter on BBC Test Match Special

    I think it will be unfair to just focus on that over. It overshadows what was a really good effort from England to get Australia to a modest total. England were really patient, I would've gone to Lauren Bell as well. Sometimes, it doesn't work out. More than just that over, there was a momentum shift, that's for sure.

  9. 'Our young players will learn a lot from this'published at 18:16 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    England captain Heather Knight on BBC Test Match Special: "It's been a ridiculous series, has to go down as the best ever in history. How Nat played to get so close was brilliant. I thought she bowled outstandingly, we let them get a few too many.

    "I thought Kate Cross bowled outstandingly, came back after a tough day. Wareham batted really well. It was a really good effort, a good wicket. With the bat, our execution could be better. Our intent was good. To nearly chase down that total was really good."

    On her dismissal: "I was surprised there was no spike, the technology disagreed. I think I hit it."

    On Lauren Bell: "She's had an awesome summer, she's backed her skills. She'll have days where it doesn't work out, but she's a resilient character. Her job is to run in and take wickets. Our young players will learn a lot from the day."

    On the series: "To have an ODI series win, we aim to go to Taunton and win. Our focus is to win both white ball series. We're gutted we weren't able to keep the momentum. It is about trying to win those big moments. The crowds have been brilliant."

    On Nat Sciver-Brunt: "Unbelievable. The partnership between her and Amy was crucial. She's a player on the top of her game and it's a pleasure."

  10. Postpublished at 18:13 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Here's the final ball and the moment that Nat Sciver-Brunt was just unable to get England over the line.

    She finished unbeaten on 111.

    It follows the all-rounder finishing 148 not out in a losing cause against Australia in the 2022 50-over World Cup too.

    NSB often saves her best for the Aussies and she has twice played special innings in defeat.

  11. 'The best series ever in women's cricket'published at 18:11 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    England captain Heather Knight: "It was amazing to get so close, Nat was amazing. I liked our intent, just need to execute a bit better and get better in those situations. We showed outstanding fight to get that close. Credit to Australia, it was more toe-to-toe cricket and this series has been full of brilliant games. There is still an ODI series to win."

    On the end: "I was a bag of nerves, it is definitely easier being out there. It has been the best series ever in women's cricket. The way both sides has played been outstanding."

    On where they lost the game: "We probably let them get a few too many in the end, we pulled it back in the middle but probably just didn't take our chances. Georgia Wareham was outstanding and swung it in their favour. There are lots of moments you look at in close games and that is hard to do. It is all about learning, we've got some young players who will learn a lot from this experience."

    On Australia retaining the Ashes: "We're disappointed. The way we've fought back, we thought we had momentum and we had belief we can win. We can draw the series and win an ODI series and that would be a massive achievement against this team."

    On England's performances in the series: "I think we've played outstandingly. We've been quite evenly matched cricket teams. We've maybe lost big moments in the past but there's been a real shift in this group and how we communicate and get through it. It has been a massively positive series for us."

  12. Postpublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Melissa Story
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Australia's celebrations show. When winning that game, they were all over each other. That goes to show just how much of a challenge England have posed.

  13. 'Big sense of relief'published at 18:05 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Player of the match, Australia's Alana King: "Big sense of relief for the Aussie girls. It was all to play for in this game so we're stoked that we came away with a win and retain the Ashes.

    "It all comes down to match-ups and we've got a pretty strong unit over here. I was bowling as much as I could anbd being ready as much as I could be. When the opportunity came I was glad I was able to take it.

    "You've got to control the controllables. I can't control whether I'm selected or not. I've just got to make sure I'm the best team-mate around and make sure my team-mates are ready to go. I can do all my work behind the scenes with our spin coach. I was stoked to get the tap on the shoulder today.

    "We have a discussion at the innings break and it's about getting into your groove, nice and easy and let the ball do the talking. It was a bit swirly with the wind so that played a part as well. But what we do best is try to assess conditions as quickly as possible and get that information to the bowling group.

    "I'm just stoked to be back in the side and play my role for the team."

  14. Postpublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    King took 3-44 and was superb on her return to the side.

    Here are her three wickets.

  15. Postpublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Australia are "stoked" to come away with victory and to retain the Ashes, says leg-spinner Alana King.

    Full quotes to come shortly.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:59 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

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

    Lauren BellImage source, Reuters

    Message for Lauren Bell: Head up Lauren, we love you & the team.

    Kev

    Fantastic from Sciver-Brunt, awful to come so close but didn't look like we had any kind of hope without her. Well played England for giving us hope, phenomenal matches, hats off to the Aussies.

    Alphonse Rawlinson

  17. Postpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Alex Blackwell
    Former Australia batter on BBC Test Match Special

    England have showed that they can meet Australia on equal terms and England should think that. England will be getting around Lauren Bell, making she's not too down. Ellyse Perry was dropped a few times, such fine margins. I do feel for Lauren Bell, an expensive over at the wrong time. It would be harsh to point just at her.

  18. Postpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    A reminder that Lauren Bell conceded 26 runs off the final over of Australia's innings.

    At just 22 this is going to hurt Bell.

    International cricket - and Ashes cricket - is full of tight margins.

  19. Postpublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    What a remarkable game of cricket. England have showed fight throughout this series, right until the end. A remarkable series. Sarah Glenn stayed with her. Australia win the Ashes with one game to spare.

  20. Postpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 16 July 2023

    Henry Moeran
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    It was so close but ultimately, England fall short. Nat Sciver-Brunt gave it everything but she couldn't quite do it all. Australia retain the Ashes. England's dreams of winning it for the first time in a decade are over.