Australia made light work of their 99-run target in Friday’s second women’s T20 International against England, scoring 3-99 with 29 balls to spare.
No.3 Meg Lanning added a hard-hitting 42 off 28 deliveries to her 78 not out in Australia’s loss in Wednesday’s opening game in Hobart.
Lanning was brilliantly caught at mid on by Lydia Greenway off the bowling of Georgia Elwiss at 2-94 and Jess Cameron was bowled for a second-ball duck as Australia stumbled following a 69-run stand for the second wicket between Lanning and Alyssa Healy.
But the loss of two wickets in three deliveries was only a hiccup for the Aussies as Healy finished unbeaten on 37, squaring the three-match series at one-all with one game to play at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
Earlier, teenager Holly Ferling claimed 2-14 to help restrict England to a modest total of 6-98.
After her unbeaten 92 in Wednesday’s game one, skipper Charlotte Edwards was the only member of England’s top five to reach 20. Edwards fell for 28 with the score on 5-62 as spinner Erin Osborne accepted a sharp return catch.
Ferling had given the home side the perfect start, bowling Danielle Wyatt for a duck in the opening over after the batter failed to keep out a yorker.
Pace bowler Ferling, 18, also removed the dangerous Sarah Taylor who was bowled for eight.
Arran Brindle was unbeaten on a run-a-ball 26 and her sixth-wicket stand of 35 with Amy Jones (14) was the highest partnership of the innings.
England had already retained the Ashes after taking an unassailable overall points lead with their win in the first T20 clash in Hobart on Wednesday.
Australia on Friday ruled out Jodie Fields (finger) and Sarah Coyte (thigh strain) for game three.
The Aussies are determined to win the T20 series to make a statement to their rivals ahead of the World T20 in Bangladesh in March.