Nat Sciver-Brunt century helps England to ODI series victory as Women's Ashes end all square

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Nat Sciver-Brunt came to the fore with the bat to help England claim victory in the ODI series against Australia as the Women's Ashes ended all square. </p>

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Victory saw the multi-series format drawn 8-8, the same score as when England last avoided Ashes defeat in Australia five years ago, and meant England had won both the ODI and T20 series 2-1. </p>

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Australia had retained the Ashes by winning the second ODI in Southampton on Sunday. </p>

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Fresh from her unbeaten 111 at Southampton, Sciver-Brunt made her second hundred in the space of three days - 129 from 149 balls - as Australia were set a challenging 286 for victory. </p>

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Batting of the highest order also secured Sciver-Brunt a fourth century from five ODIs against Australia, and the seventh of her England career in this format. </p>

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Australia's target was reduced to 269 from 44 overs by rain and, despite Ashleigh Gardner providing brief hope with a bludgeoning 41 from 24 balls, they were bowled out for 199 as England ran out comfortable winners to the delight of a capacity crowd. </p>

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England, having lost the toss, were soon in trouble as openers Sophia Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont departed with just 12 runs on the board. </p>

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Captain Heather Knight and Sciver-Brunt rose to the challenge of repairing the innings, leading England to 43 for two by the end of the first powerplay after 10 overs. </p>

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Runs came freely with Knight finding gaps in the field with ease and Sciver-Brunt, who survived a stumping review off Gardner on 25, landing a six on the boundary cushion with imperious precision. </p>

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But with McGrath spilling a return chance off Sciver-Brunt, then on 54, the third-wicket partnership was worth 147 when Knight advanced down the wicket to Alana King and was bowled for 67, her 72-ball stay containing six fours and a six. </p>

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Alice Capsey dragged Jess Jonassen to long-on for five but huge roars greeted Sciver-Brunt as she reached three figures off 126 balls. </p>

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England entered the final 10 overs seeking to accelerate and Danni Wyatt played the perfect cameo with a whirlwind 43 from 25 balls before being bowled attempting to cut a full-length ball from Gardner. </p>

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Amy Jones was run out for six and Sciver-Brunt's resistance finally ended in the 48th over as Jonassen tempted an airborne pull into the safe hands of Gardner. </p>

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The latter then won an lbw review against Charlie Dean to finish with three for 39 and Jonassen also collected a third scalp by castling Kate Cross as England closed on 285 for nine. </p>

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Australia, as England had done, lost two early wickets. Phoebe Litchfield fell for one to Lauren Bell, with Sophie Ecclestone accepting a low chance at first slip, and Alyssa Healy was cleaned up by a beauty from Cross as Australia slipped to 15 for two. </p>

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Tahlia McGrath appeared well set on 26 as Australia steadied the ship, but Ecclestone's flight deceived her and Jones completed a smart stumping. </p>

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The players were forced off by rain with Australia 97 for three after 19.2 overs, with England facing potential heartbreak as they needed to bowl 20 overs to constitute a completed match. </p>

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But the players were back on the field 54 minutes later, with Australia's revised target asking them to score at seven runs an over. </p>

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Ellyse Perry, having reached her half-century with a free-hit six, provided a steepling catch to Capsey off Cross on 53, and Beth Mooney drove straight to Ecclestone at mid-off to give Cross a third victim. </p>

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Australia were given hope as Gardner went on the offensive, taking 17 from a Bell over, but her acceptance of a risky second after Sutherland drove through the covers proved fatal as she was just short of her ground when Cross took the bails off from Wyatt's throw. </p>

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Australia never recovered as Jones produced another excellent stumping to remove Wareham for 14 and Dean, called up with Sarah Glenn needing surgery for appendicitis, bowled Sutherland for 18. </p>

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King went for nought as Jones held a towering catch and England's win was completed as Bell held a thick edge from Jonassen at short third. </p>

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