English women keep Eshas hopes alive with T20 victory over Australia

Heather Knight's use of English spinner Sophie Ecclestone (center) provided the winning formula. Photo: Getty Images/Warren Little

How to solve a problem like Australia? Looks like England finally found the answer. Their hopes of winning the Ashes for the first time since 2014 are hanging in the balance after they bounced back from a mid-level crash to secure a vital victory over Australia.

England, who are trailing 6-2 in the series, all four remaining white ball games still need to be won to bring back the Ashes, and if they succeed, it will undoubtedly be one of the greatest comebacks in the sport.

On a night when a record crowd of 20,328 saw a brilliant spectacle, Australia, who won the toss and decided to bowl, claimed 20 of the remaining six balls after England announced a goal of 187. But the tourists did not. enough in the tank, and after suffering their first defeat in over two years, England won a rare victory by three points.

Australia simply won't lose. Defeating this excellent team, which has lost only once in the last 24 international T20 tournaments, was more of a psychological than a physical challenge for John Lewis's hard-fought team.

The English lacked a powerplay last Saturday at Edgbaston, but on a warm July evening they scored with their Ashes series at stake. Danny Wyatt scored 76 of 46 in an innings that was not without drama for England as Australia broke into England's midfield. They went 100-1 before losing 5 wickets over 23 runs. It was more like a game of jenga than cricket as Captain Heather Knight trailed the golden duck on her 100th T20 appearance.

By the time Nat Skeever Brant took over bowling, it was a do-or-die game for England. Australia equaled England in power play before Sarah Glenn beat Alyssa Healy who scored 37 of 19 goals. Lightning was said to have struck twice, and sure enough, it soon became Australia's turn to suffer its own uncharacteristic collapse, falling to 75-4 after a 59-0 rise.

Dani Gibson took her first international wicket by pulling out Beth Mooney before Talia McGrath was knocked out after some intuitive thinking from Charlie Dean, who was sprawled on the grass. Sophie Ecclestone, who heroically stabilized England towards the end of her serve, jumped like a gazelle to catch Ashley Gardner's chip. Suddenly England raised their tails.

By the time Knight caught Annabelle Garder's mid-game shot superbly, the crowd of 20,328 — a record for a single women's international in this country — was beginning to believe.

shift sharply towards Australia after Ellis Perry added reinforcements to her team's innings – and Georgia Wareham hit a six in a row – before the latter was hunted down by Lauren Bell.

The 100, which has done wonders for women's cricket in this country, was launched at this stadium two years ago. It was the night that England was in that good mood. They may be down, but they are certainly not out.