- Updates from the second ODI at Leicester
- Megan Schutt: don’t buy the idea Australia are hot favourites
- And you can email Adam here or tweet him here
37th over: England 175-4 (Beaumont 110, Wyatt 18) I’m advised that Beaumont’s century is the first by an England player since ODIs were incorporated into the Women’s Ashes. You’ll see that in all of our copy later tonight, I suspect. Six from Schutt’s new over, her sixth of the innings, all in ones an twos.
36th over: England 169-4 (Beaumont 109, Wyatt 13) Gardner goes again and after the set pair set up the over with a couple of singles, Beaumont busts out the reverse sweep and nails it just wide of the fielder at backward point. A couple of further singles to finish makes another over worth eight. They’re on track for a very healthy total here, especially if Beaumont can last another half an hour or so.
35th over: England 161-4 (Beaumont 103, Wyatt 11) Charlotte Edwards on the TV notes that the job for Beaumont is to go BIG now, which she has once before against Pakistan in 2016 down at Taunton. Wyatt is making the running against Perry here though, hammering the second ball of her new spell past point for four.
Brilliant ton from Tammy Beaumont, her first against Australia. If you want to learn more about her story, I wrote the @WisdenAlmanack essay when she was made one of the five cricketers of the year in April. https://t.co/7zckfUfYJo#WomensAshes
34th over: England 154-4 (Beaumont 101, Wyatt 7) Beaumont is back on strike via a Wyatt single and the crowd go wild, confusing the pair. But now they get a chance to cheer, Beaumont tucking Gardner for the run she needs to bring up her first Ashes ton. “Come on!” roars the pocket-rocket opener. What a fine innings this has been, raising the hundred in 99 balls, striking 11 boundaries along the way.
33rd over: England 150-4 (Beaumont 99, Wyatt 5) Beaumont to 98 through midwicket and 99 in that diretion too. The 150 is raised when Wyatt gives her the strike back with one ball to go in the over... which she defends. DRINKS!
Catch up with Victor’s latest following England’s win in the men’s World Cup yesterday, ensuring their progress to the semi-finals next week.
Related: England become team to avoid with all Eoin Morgan’s players fit and firing | Vic Marks
32nd over: England 146-4 (Beaumont 97, Wyatt 3) Gardner is on to replace Kimmince. Beaumont is sweeping, Wyatt pushing, Beaumont scooping, Wyatt paddling. The board keeps ticking, England’s opener three short of a ton.
31st over: England 141-4 (Beaumont 95, Wyatt 0) A wicket slows England down, the sucessful Jonassen over on track for a wicket maiden until Beaumont retains the strike with a push through cover.
At Leeds, Afghanistan are making steady progress in pursuit of the Windies’ 311-6.
Related: Afghanistan chasing 312 to beat West Indies: Cricket World Cup 2019 – live!
Straight down deep square leg’s throat! Given how many sweeps these two have been playing, it was highly probable that the shot would get one of them. It was a full-blooded strike of the ball, but Gardner didn’t need to move a muscle.
30th over: England 140-3 (Beaumont 94, Wilson 8) Beaumont gets two from a clip off Kimmince, running hard for the second. Later in the over she plays a gorgeous square drive steered between the two fielders patrolling the backward point region. Just about the shot of the day for mine, that. It advances the opener to 94.
29th over: England 132-3 (Beaumont 87, Wilson 7) When spin is on, these two will sweep at every avaialble opportunity. They have the paddle, the conventional, the lap, the reverse. In addition to a couple of drives down the ground, five are added from Jonassen’s first over back after Beaumont hit her out of the attack earlier.
28th over: England 127-3 (Beaumont 84, Wilson 5) Kimmince is an outstanding middle-overs bowler, the perfect combination of accuracy and pace variation. It’s a great story behind her return to Australian colours after a long absence (which included working in a London pub for a time), and she’s really making it count.
27th over: England 125-3 (Beaumont 83, Wilson 4) Four singles off Wareham, all taken via sweeps to fine leg. Wilson, in particular, is known as a prolific sweeper, taking the mantle from Lydia Greenway as the best in this England side when the World Cup winner retired a couple of summers ago.She was out sweeping on Tuesday, given leg before off her glove. Sure enough, that caused quite a stir: why isn’t there DRS in this series? The technology is here, they saw it on the big screen.
26th over: England 121-3 (Beaumont 81, Wilson 2) Excellent from Kimmince, through another accurate over giving up just three. She’s very hard to hit from nagging line just on the off-stump, mixing up her speeds along the way.
25th over: England 118-3 (Beaumont 78, Wilson 2) Wilson has to dive to make her ground when Beaumont takes a quick single. The stumps weren’t broken, otherwise she would have been in strife. But the near miss doesn’t deter the opener, who moves through the 70s with a crisp conventional sweep to the rope.
24th over: England 109-3 (Beaumont 71, Wilson 0) A successful over, Lanning again rewarded with a wicket in the over where she made a change. Kimmince got the nod ahead of Nicola Carey for these ODIs and has looked the part so far.
Meanwhile in men’s World Cup land, Plunkett wants the final on free TV. I’m sure the players all think that, but it is interesting that he would actually say it.
Related: Liam Plunkett wants Cricket World Cup final on free-to-air television
Sciver plays across the line and pays the price for missing the ball, struck on the back pad. That was good enough for the umpire, who didn’t hesitate.
23rd over: England 106-2 (Beaumont 69, Sciver 14) Warhem begins her second spell from the Bennett/Curzon Rd/Broadcast end, her first three overs going for 0/16. Beaumont is dancing at her straight away, Sciver doing likewise when she gets on strike, winning a misfield out of Mooney at mid-off due to how hard she hits it.
22nd over: England 103-2 (Beaumont 67, Sciver 13) Sciver brings up the England 100, starting the new Gardner over with one behind square. Beaumont then paddle sweeps another single before Sciver picks out the midwicket sweeper. They’re risk-free runs, even when the reverse sweep is busted out later in the over.
21st over: England 99-2 (Beaumont 65, Sciver 11) Better from Perry, keeping Beaumont quiet early in the over. The opener plays a fine square drive through the gap that would have been four if not for an assured diving stop from Schutt. To finish, another dive is required - this time by Wareham - to again deny a boundary.
20th over: England 94-2 (Beaumont 61, Sciver 10) That’s Sciver’s jam, dancing down at Gardner from around the wicket and driving over mid-on for her first four. With four other singles around the sweepers, it’s another good over.
19th over: England 86-2 (Beaumont 59, Sciver 4) Good start for Beaumont, driving through the gap at cover for three. In response, Perry attacks the stumps but it ends up a full toss, the opener helping it along for four. The Australian attack-leader has not been at her best so far today.
18th over: England 77-2 (Beaumont 51, Sciver 3) Beaumont laps the first ball of Gardner’s fresh over, bringing up her half-century from 44 deliveries, striking eight boundaries along the way. Only couple further singles come from it, though. Gardner was Australia’s most frugal bowler here during the 2017 World Cup.
17th over: England 74-2 (Beaumont 49, Sciver 2) Perry returns to the attack, replacing Wareham. Beaumont plays her with respect, happy with a single to cover. Sciver, with one ball to deal with, needs to get low to a ball that doesn’t get up but keeps it out safely. Beaumont is one away from raising her bat.
16th over: England 73-2 (Beaumont 48, Sciver 2) Sciver was superb on Tuesday. She’s off the mark first ball here today with a couple behind square. Of course, this is where she made her towering maiden ODI ton during the 2017 World Cup. Great change from Lanning to get Gardner on just as the previous pair were getting busy.
Gardner strikes with her third ball! Brought in to replace Jonassen, Knight tried to take the off-spinner long and straight after dancing down the track but miscued the stroke, the ball flying high into the air, taken easily by Haynes at mid-off.
15th over: England 69-1 (Beaumont 46, Knight 17) You can’t bowl full tosses at Tammy Beaumont, the opener hitting a four from the first ball of the over for the third time on the bounce. She really is flying now, striking at nearly 130.
14th over: England 62-1 (Beaumont 40, Knight 16) Beaumont is go!She begins the Jonassen over with a loft over mid-off for four, landing just inside the rope. That’s the way to go after a spinner, doing it early in the set. She goes again from the second ball, punching through cover and timing it so well that it runs away for four more. The 50-partnership is raised with it. Fine batting. Of course, after failing cheaply in the first ODI last home summer, she hit back to back tons against South Africa. Of course, now I’ve mentioned this she’ll get out straight away.
13th over: England 53-1 (Beaumont 31, Knight 16) Better from Wareham, who has found her length nice and early. I’m enjoying how much air she is giving. I’ve no time for leggies who rush it through. Give me risk/reward, thanks very much.
12th over: England 49-1 (Beaumont 29, Knight 14) Beaumont is going again at Jonassen early in the over, this time on the cut first ball behind for her fifth boundary. A couple of further singles makes another healthy over. After the early wicket and slow start against Schutt, the England base is now building very nicely.
11th over: England 43-1 (Beaumont 24, Knight 13) The leggie Wareham is on for her first go and it takes Beaumont only only two balls to get resourceful, deflecting expertly through the vacant third man for four. Giving it plenty of air, the opener is playing watchfully before tucking one to keep the strike.
10th over: England 38-1 (Beaumont 19, Knight 13) Spin for the final over of the first power play, via left-armer Jess Jonassen. Singles are exchanged early in the over to the sweeper at cover. Given a bit more depth later in the set, Knight uses the crease and crunches behind point for four. Shot. Jonassen bounces back though, slipping a straight one past the captain’s inside edge. They’re up for leg before but the appeal is turned down. Of course, we have no DRS in this series. Grrrrr.
9th over: England 32-1 (Beaumont 18, Knight 8) Schutt oversteps first up, which is most unusual. Beaumont gets a fair of the free hit but not quite enough to reach the rope, a diving stop from Lanning denying the fourth. The skipper wouldn’t be denied getting a boundary of her own later in the over though, Knight creaming an overpitched delivery through extra cover for four. Nice, positive batting.
8th over: England 23-1 (Beaumont 15, Knight 3) Beaumont takes one to third man early. Perry is up for leg before to Knight but it is quickly turned down. The captain picks out the fielders on the circle a couple of times but is unable to pick the gap.
Speaking of the captain. ‘Heather’s Pride’ took place last week, which was a competition where letters/videos were sent in by kids explaining why they should get a training session with England. By all reports, it was a lovely day. Here are the competition winners alongside Knight, Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole.
7th over: England 22-1 (Beaumont 14, Knight 3) Beaumont takes a run off Schutt after a couple of maidens from her end, on the front foot to mid-on. Knight grabs a couple around the corner to get her moving in the right direction. These two have an even bigger job ahead of them than usual today with Sarah Taylor missing.
6th over: England 19-1 (Beaumont 13, Knight 1) Beaumont leaps onto a short and wide delivery, cutting her third boundary off Perry. She’s then down the other end via a steered single to third man. Good batting. They’re giving the home skipper nothing when she’s on strike, Knight again playing out the remainder of the set.
5th over: England 14-1 (Beaumont 8, Knight 1) Schutt is bowling into a shoebox. It isn’t always easy to get into that groove early as a swing bowler but it is exactly what the South Australian has done early on here. Knight is forced to make a good decision from each delivery, and does, playing out another maiden.
4th over: England 14-1 (Beaumont 8, Knight 1) Perry gives Beaumont a full toss on her pads and she makes no mistake putting it away through square leg to get off the mark. She makes it two boundaries in the over from the final delivery, crashing a half-volley through cover. Beaumont’s away.
Left the Women's Ashes game on Tuesday night, got to Dublin on Wednesday, left this morning and I'm back in Leicester for the start of play in Game 2. Never miss a minute.
3rd over: England 6-1 (Beaumont 0, Knight 1) Schutt is right on the money here, bouncing in after that familiar squat at the top of her mark, ala Rubel Hossain from the Bangladesh men’s team. A maiden it is, Knight in defence throughout.
2nd over: England 6-1 (Beaumont 0, Knight 1) Such a poor start for Jones, who has had a brilliant nine months or so. This is the series she has been longing to play in and dominate. She’ll have to wait for Sunday now. Earlier in the over, she picked up a boundary off Perry’s first ball down to fine leg. With Taylor missing, the captain Heather Knight shuffles up to No3. She was out first ball to Perry on Tuesday, lbw, but is off the mark first up today, with a tuck behind square.
Back to back soft dismissals for Jones, chipping a catch to midwicket.
1st over: England 1-0 (Jones 0, Beaumont 0) Tidy from Schutt to begin, line and length to Jones who is happy to get her eye in with the full face of the blade in defence. She is off the mark from the final delivery down to fine leg for the easiest of singles. Plug Schutt’s column again? I will. The discussion about how the Australian dressing room has changed from 2017 is really interesting.
Related: Don’t buy into the idea that Australia are raging hot Women's Ashes favourites | Megan Schutt
The players are on the field! Megan Schutt has the ball in her hand, running away from us at the the broadcast or Bennett end. Amy Jones will be facing the first ball, Tammy Beaumont opening the batting with her. PLAY!
It is an ankle niggle. Official word from the England team: “Sarah Taylor injured her ankle in the first ODI and hasn’t recovered in time to play today.”
Dave Lawrence opening up on the emails. “Greetings! Looking forward to another exciting Ashes ODI.” Good afternoon to you. Let’s hope for a high-scoring thriller. “Re: the multi-format series, would you not rather see a higher points weighting for the Test Match and lesser for the T20s? Or perhaps an extra test with one fewer of each of the limited overs formats?”
My fix: ODIs 3, Test 5 (two each for a draw), T20s 2. Reduces the likelihood of an even scoreline and reflects the fact that winning an ODI is harder than a T20.
England: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (w), Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Danielle Wyatt, Fran Wilson, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Marsh, Kate Cross.
Australia: Nicole Bolton, Alyssa Healy (w), Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt.
“It is important that we move on quite quickly,” she says. “I asked for some fight in the last game after the bad start we had, which was brilliant. But not enough.”
Sarah Taylor is out. She has a niggle. Danni Wyatt comes into the XI for her. Amy Jones will ‘keep for England, as she does whenever Taylor misses out.
In front of my OBO position, the England superstar ‘keeper hasn’t got the gloves on and doesn’t appear to be warming up. We’ll find out what’s going on there at the toss in a couple of minutes.
Welcome to Leicester for the second Women’s Ashes ODI! It’s a glorious day here at Grace Road, where surely the successful captain at the toss will bat. It is a used pitch as well - the same strip that was played on when Australia got over the line by two wickets on Tuesday - so it will doubtless take to turn as the day wears on.
The hosts were abysmal early with the bat in the series opener, slumping to 4/19 and eventually skittled for 177. All that stood between them and a double-digit tally was all-rounder Nat Sciver (64) and No10 Sophie Ecclestone (27 in 27 balls).
Don’t buy into the idea that Australia are raging hot Women's Ashes favourites | Megan Schutt https://t.co/ChOhtsrtv9
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