Edwards 50 in vain as Australia level Ashes series
Thursday 23rd July 2015
Kent captain Charlotte Edwards top-scored for England with 58 as Australia won by 63 runs in the second Royal London One-Day International.
England fell short of what would have been a record chase as the tourists squared the Ashes.
Visiting skipper Meg Lanning was the difference between the side with her sixth one-day international hundred before breaking England's opening partnership with a fine run-out to help her side follow their men's lead by levelling the series.
England captain Charlotte Edwards recorded her 46th ODI half-century in response but England's middle order were unable to build on the work of their top three as they attempted to surpass Australia's 259 for six.
Edwards wanted early scalps after inserting Australia at the Bristol County Ground but Nicole Bolton (37) and Elyse Villani (35) put on 65 for the first wicket.
Rebecca Grundy forced the breakthrough, having Villani caught behind, before Anya Shrubsole bowled Bolton.
But Lanning combined with Ellyse Perry to compile 132 for the third wicket. The former was in brilliant form, though survived on 72 when shelled by Sarah Taylor while Katie Cross could not hold a difficult return catch after the Australian skipper had added 11 more.
Lanning reached her ton from 92 balls before being stumped for 104 off Natalie Sciver with 15 balls of the innings left, by which time Perry had fallen two runs short of a seventh successive ODI fifty when she fell to Heather Knight.
England's record successful chase is 243 but their response started well, with Edwards and Knight putting on 92 for the first wicket.
Lanning forced the breakthrough with a direct hit from midwicket to oust a diving Knight, who had been sent back by her skipper after attempting a quick single.
Edwards was soon bowled by Megan Schutt (four for 47) and Amy Jones followed without scoring to Jess Jonassen.
Jonassen took the key scalp of Taylor, who had raced to 43 from 39 deliveries, and when Tuesday's matchwinning partnership of Kent's Lydia Greenway (20) and Natalie Sciver (three) were both dismissed by Sarah Coyte England's chances were gone.
Katherine Brunt added a rapid 21 at the death before running out of partners as Australia tore through England's lower order.
Australia take on Englandat The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrencein the only Women's Ashes Test Match as part of an extended Canterbury Week this summer.
Entry to the Women’s Ashes Kia Test on August 11-14 is included in Kent All Rounder and Championship Plus Memberships and is an option for Six Pack package holders.