Capsey heroics help England register T20I series win; Ashes stands 6-4

A quickfire knock from Alice Capsey helped England defeat Australia in a rain-curtailed thrilling chase to win the third T20I and the series at Lord's on Saturday (July 8). This was Australia's first series defeat in any format since 2017. That win also meant England are still alive in the multi-format Women's Ashes series with four points to the visitors' six.

In front of a packed crowd of 21,610, England won the toss and opted to bowl first with rain around. Although  she went for a couple of boundaries in the first two balls, Charlie Dean came back to remove Alyssa Healy in the fourth over. With Danielle Gibson removing Tahlia McGrath early and Natalie Sciver-Brunt getting the better of Beth Mooney, the hosts looked to be on the frontfoot when rain arrived. 

However, post rain Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner managed to take on the English bowling and took the score of 97 before a brilliant bit of keeping from Amy Jones removed Gardner for 32.

From there, Perry's 34 and Grace Harris' 15-ball 25 helped Australia to a competitive total of 155 for 7 from the stipulated 20 overs.

The chase was delayed due to persistent rain and England were set a DLS target of 119 from 14 overs with four overs of power play. Danielle Wyatt started rapidly for the hosts as she took on Megan Schutt and hit six boundaries in the power play before falling to the Australian opening bowler. Wyatt's knock of 26 off 15 balls gave England the momentum they wanted.

However, Sophia Dunkley fell immediately in the next over and it was on young Capsey and Sciver-Brunt to take England home. Capsey, coming off from a bad run of scores, launched Jess Jonassen over deep mid-wicket for a maximum to keep things going. She then hit a couple of fours off Gardner and then took on Schutt as well with a huge six followed by a four.

Although Capsey departed in the next ball off Schutt, the 18-year-old made sure that England were ahead of the required run rate and despite a mini wobble, young Gibson reverse swept Jonassen to bring up a famous win for the hosts.

Brief Scores: Australia 155/7 in 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 34; Natalie Sciver-Brunt 2/31) lost to England 121/5 in 13.2 overs (Alice Capsey 46; Megan Schutt 2/35) by 5 wickets (DLS Method) POTM: Alice Capsey