Summary

  • England win means multi-format, points-based Ashes is drawn 8-8

  • Holders Australia retain urn but suffer first ODI bilateral series loss since 2013

  • Cross takes three wickets, including Perry and Mooney

  • Sciver-Brunt scores second successive century (129 off 149 balls)

  • Wyatt's 43 off 25 balls gives England late impetus

  • Knight (67) & Sciver-Brunt put on 147 for third wicket

  1. Goodbye... for now!published at 20:45 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Media caption,

    Women's Ashes 2023: Nat Sciver-Brunt inspires England to ODI series win over Australia

    Time for us to call it a day on this and the Women's Ashes.

    What an utterly brilliant five weeks it has been! We've seen two brilliant teams go toe-to-toe and provide us with some superb entertainment.

    I'll leave you with Ffion Wynne's report from Taunton as England draw the Ashes and inflict a first ODI bilateral series defeat on Australia in 10 years.

    You can watch highlights on BBC Two and iPlayer from 23:15 BST tonight, and there's some of the key moments below too.

    Want more cricket? We'll be back at 08:00 BST for the opening day of the fourth men's Ashes Test between England and Australia from Emirates Old Trafford.

    It never stops. It's great, isn't it?

  2. Postpublished at 20:43 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    A reminder of how we've finished up then:

    • Australia retain the Ashes after the multi-format series finishes 8-8
    • England win the ODI series to inflict a first bilateral series defeat on Australia in 50-over cricket since 2013
    • That follows them handing Australia a first T20 series defeat since 2017
    • England won four of the seven games in the series having come into the series as underdogs
  3. 'It feels like a moral victory'published at 20:41 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt to BBC: "It's been a long, tiring series but one where we've been able to go toe-to-toe with them."

    The belief you showed?: "That belief was really instilled in us from Lewy, there was no other way we were going to about it."

    Are you a better setter or chaser?: "I know, I'm really happy that I've been able to score 100 and we've won a game, it makes a really nice change. Setting it up the way me and Heather did allowed us to be very aggressive."

    The match itself: "The rain delay changed things a bit but it got us back in."

    A moral victory?: "It feels like a moral victory. From the position we were in, we felt we were going to do it. The last game were as close as it's been. We're happy we got the draw."

    Facetiming Sarah Glenn after the win: "She was up in the changing room earlier today, what a whirlwind 24 hours she's had. I'm happy she's been able to get the treatment she needed for her appendix, who would've thought she would need that in this series. We wanted to do it for her."

  4. 'It's been a rollercoaster - but I love it'published at 20:39 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    England bowler Lauren Bell, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's definitely been a rollercoaster, taking responsibility, but I love it and hopefully I can keep doing it for England.

    "It's been an unbelievable series. I've had Crossy by my side to pick me up a few times but it's been a really good series."

    On Kate Cross' influence: "I can't really put it into words. She picks me up and keeps me going. We drew a little smiley face on the pitch today because we thought 'cricket cannot not make us smile' - that was one of the big things.

    "We do work well together and keep other going. It's been good."

  5. Postpublished at 20:37 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Alex Blackwell
    Former Australia batter on BBC Test Match Special

    We've spoken about the way England have played, let's not underestimate the value of home crowds. How England have marketed the Ashes, it sets the bar for Australia in the next series. It makes the difference. You heard how they responded to Danni Wyatt and back-to-back wickets for Kate Cross. It makes a difference.

  6. 'It feels a bit dirty to be taking the trophy home'published at 20:36 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    More from Australia captain Alyssa Healy to BBC...

    How do you think this series has helped to capture the imagination?: "I think it's captured a lot back home. How close the fixtures have been, people have stayed up. It's been great to be a part of, great cricket, it's probably fitting that we're standing here with a series drawn sign there."

    Happy to be going home with the trophy?: "It was, we ticked that off. We haven't lost an ODI series for a very long period of time. We didn't quite get that done but we did what we tried to do. It feels a bit dirty of the end of the day."

    Are you hoping for a similar response in your next home Ashes?: "I hope we get great venues and great crowds, people want to come and see us. I firmly believe if you give us the opportunity to play good cricket and good series, we will put on a show."

    Drawing the series?: "There's hardly any draws in cricket barring Test matches, so how can you draw a series. Obviously you go with who held the series, I will wait to hear from Heather before commenting on that one."

  7. Postpublished at 20:34 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Melinda Farrell
    BBC Test Match Special

    It certainly has been a special day. How magnificent is it that we've had a Test, three T20s and three ODIs, and it was deep into the final innings before we knew who would come out on top.

  8. 'There's not the gap anyone talks about'published at 20:32 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    More from England captain Heather Knight talking to BBC...

    Alyssa Healy saying a win felt a bit dirty?: "I guess it's not a victory, it's a draw. It's tricky, you start with one point it seems if you have the Ashes. I don't know, we just play with the rules we get."

    Highlights of the series?: "Hard to look past Bristol, just the skill and resilience of that side to get over the line. We've got better at communicating and tried to grow a few leaders in the side. Even the first game at Edgbaston, we could've thought here we go again. There's not the gap everyone talks about."

    Alyssa Healy saying there isn't a gap between the teams?: "I totally agree."

    What have you made of the series as a whole?: "I think it's been the best series ever. Really close, nail-biters, the crowds have been amazing. They were great again, more and more people are talking about cricket. It's all about capturing the imagination."

  9. 'I've never seen a gap'published at 20:30 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Australia captain Alyssa Healy to BBC: "It's a grimace, not a smile. It is what it is. We just didn't play our best at the back end, some inexperience and decision making. We've got the trophy but we're not happy about not winning this series."

    The gap between the two sides?: "Everyone talks about this gap, but I've never seen it. We've been able to win those key moments, but at times in this series, we haven't. England are playing some great cricket at the moment."

    How do you get Nat Sciver-Brunt out?: "We dropped her then refused to run her out. We had some plans in place, but she's in really good form and seems to enjoy play against us. A serious player and serious competitor."

    Did you see that target as a par score?: "We thought it was under, if we kept them under 290 we would be happy. The ground played its part a little bit, but that's cricket, it doesn't always go your way. We just probably let ourselves down at the end."

  10. Postpublished at 20:29 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    "England have outplayed us, and played a fearless brand of cricket, and it is something we should look at," says Australia all-rounder Ash Gardner at the post-match presentation.

    Big praise for England.

  11. 'The best series ever'published at 20:27 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    England captain Heather Knight to BBC: "Super chuffed, we've won two white-ball series against the double world champions. The Ashes is a draw, but if you look at the context, being 6-0 down is great."

    Proud of the fightback from Sunday?: "No, we came straight to Taunton, a pretty quiet coach. We talked about how we wanted to play. There was an ODI series on the line, they hadn't lost one for 10 years, we had the opportunity to do it and hammer it home."

    Bowling of Lauren Bell and Alice Capsey?: "Really pleased. It will be huge learning for them. They've been outstanding, but we've all got areas we can improve on. We've got a hell of a lot of room for improvement, that's really exciting. We've got players like Nat on the top of their game, but lots of younger players too."

    How does this rank among your achievements as captain?: "Up there. We haven't got the Ashes, we drew the series in 2017, that was bittersweet. It's up there, to do that against double world champions. Not the World Cup, but we've got two white-ball trophies which is really nice."

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:25 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

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

    What a terrific performance by England Women across the whole series.

    Keith, Staffordshire

  13. Postpublished at 20:24 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Melissa Story
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    I was 13 the last time it happened. It's incredible. You have no idea in these games between England, Australia and India who is going to win them. I wish there was some tri-series, well over 100,000 people have poured into the grounds, seen England almost do the impossible. I'd love to know how many people jumped into women's cricket for the first time and have been converted to women's cricket for life. It's just inspiring.

  14. 'A hugely exciting time for this team'published at 20:22 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    More from England captain Heather Knight: "How exciting is it that we probably haven't played our best cricket? Today is probably as close as we've been to playing our best match but I think there s a huge amount of improvement. Nat is near the top of her game but there is some young players with a huge amount of talent and a high ceiling. It is now about us trying to get better. Our mentality is right, it is just about executing better and working out how to do it in different conditions and our execution will get better. It is a hugely exciting time for this team."

    On the points system: "It's tricky, isn't it? The same has happened to us in Australia where we lost both white-ball series but won the Test and won the Ashes. That led to a change of points. I'm not too sure, I'm sure the boffins will have a little play around. It is a little bit harder to win them when you are going in not having the Ashes. It is maybe about right, but maybe there could be an odd number of points for something so there couldn't be a draw, I'm not too sure."

  15. 'Crowds show we're inspiring and entertaining people'published at 20:21 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Player of the match and player of the series, England's Nat Sciver-Brunt: "I tried to take it ball by ball today. I came in in some pretty tough conditions after they'd got two quick wickets.

    "Me and Heather [Knight] needed to rebuild a bit, we got a good partnership together and I was glad to be taking it to them today."

    On first ODI series win over Australia since 2013: "I think we can all be really proud of ourselves, proud of what we've achieved and how we've gone about it.

    "We've seen with the amount of people who have come to watch that we have been inspiring and entertaining people. Long may that continue."

    On sell-out crowds: "We've always had a really good reception here at Taunton and to play at the bigger grounds was amazing. To have that atmosphere was really special and spurred us on in difficult moments.

    "Hopefully they come and watch us again at the end of the summer (against Sri Lanka)."

    On effects of two long innings in three days: "I'm pretty tired! I'm glad I didn't have to bowl another spell. I'll be all right, have a bit of time off and hopefully recover well."

  16. 'To win two series against Australia is hugely special'published at 20:19 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    England captain Heather Knight: "I am hugely pleased, it was a draw and we've got two trophies against the world champions and that is hugely special.

    "The way the group has turned it round after the Ageas Bowl, it was a pretty quiet bus journey on the way here because there was a lot of emotion and disappointment that the Ashes had slipped away, but credit to the group and staff. We really turned up today. We wanted to entertain and inspire the crowd, we owed that to everyone. I'm very impressed with how the girls did that.

    "The fact we'd gone so close in the Test and first T20 built more belief. It was just about staying level but accepting that we could do a lot about it because we very close. We knew we had the players to compete with this very good side. The staff deserve a huge amount of credit for keeping us believing. The turnaround has been hugely impressive and I think there is a lot of leaders in the group and credit to them."

  17. 'Doesn't feel fair the Ashes are going back to Australia'published at 20:17 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    More from Kate Cross speaking to Sky Sports: "We definitely think we're closing the gap to Australia. The fact that we're 8-8 at the end of it and it doesn't really feel fair that it's going back to Australia.

    "We've played some really good cricket, we've gone toe-to-toe with the best team in the world for five weeks now.

    "There is a lot of really happy faces over there and I think it's thoroughly deserved."

    On the crowds: "It's been incredible, I really think it has been the difference for us. We spoke about having a twelthers with the crowd, especially when we found we'd sold so many tickets.

    "Belly will say this is the norm for her, coming through with The Hundred and playing in front of 12,000 every times she plays but for the senior players in the group, it's brand new to sell out for an ODI series.

    "It goes to show we're in a really healthy place with women's cricket and hopefully we've inspired some people to want to play and come and watch us."

  18. Postpublished at 20:14 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    You can watch highlights of this game on BBC Two and iPlayer at 23:15 BST by the way.

    They are definitely worth a watch either live or on catch-up.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:14 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

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

    Chris Knights: What a game! What a SERIES! WAshes has delivered on ALL fronts. Both teams have done their part to entertain over the last few weeks. Thank you ladies.