Australia took a 2-0 lead in the multi-format Women’s Ashes with a nervy two-wicket victory in the first one-day international against England.
Having been put in to bat, England slipped to 19-4 but Nat Sciver’s 64 helped get them to 177 with Ellyse Perry taking 3-43 at Leicester.
Alyssa Healy then top-scored with 66 as Australia, who had been 105-5, chased the target with two wickets to spare.
England will look to draw level at the same venue on Thursday.
The teams will play three one-day internationals, three T20 internationals and one Test match throughout July, with four points for a win and two for a draw in the Test, and two points for a win in all limited-overs games.
After Tammy Beaumont hit the first ball of the match to the boundary, England’s top order capitulated.
Amy Jones, who had scored five half-centuries in her previous six ODIs, was cramped for room by the impressive Perry and got a top edge to be dismissed without scoring.
The hosts then lost three wickets with the score on 19. Beaumont dragged on, Sarah Taylor was bowled through the gate and captain Heather Knight was trapped lbw as they endured a nightmare start on a good batting pitch.
The middle order responded well with Sciver playing some glorious cover drives in a well-constructed innings, while Fran Wilson made a useful 15 before being wrongly given out lbw to a ball which hit her glove, sparking a debate about the lack of the Decision Review System (DRS) – which
is not being used in the series.
Katherine Brunt (20), Laura Marsh (24 not out) and Sophie Ecclestone (an ODI-best 27) ensured England’s tail wagged.
With the ball, England were much more impressive. Brunt dismissed Australia captain Meg Lanning and had Healy dropped. The all-rounder now has the most Women’s Ashes wickets in all formats for England (52), overtaking Myrtle Maclagan.
The spin duo of Ecclestone and Marsh took a combined 5-65 to ensure a tight finish but ultimately England did not have enough runs on the board, finding the balance of attacking to take wickets, while restricting scoring, too difficult.
