England need to win to keep the ODI series alive
After hosts Australia picked up a convincing win in the opening WODI in the Women’s Ashes 2025, it’s England on the backfoot and Heather Knight’s girls need a result in their favour to keep the series alive.
Ahead of the second WODI of the Women’s Ashes 2025, here’s our match preview and predictions.
Australia vs England 2nd ODI | Women’s Ashes 2025 | 04:35 IST, January 14, 2025
After being put into bat first in the first WODI, the English team had a poor start, losing their openers early on. While their experienced middle-order got starts, none converted it into a big score, which hurt the innings at the as the likes of Heather Knight, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones all failed to capitalise after being set in which saw England fail to bat out the 50 overs, collapsing for 204 in the 44th over. Knight will expect more from herself and her senior batters, to make the most of a good start
With the ball, young Lauren Bell was tight with the new ball and got rid of the dangerous Ellyse Perry while Lauren Filer and Sophie Ecclestone both chipped in with a couple of wickets, albeit Filer was on the expensive side, going at over 7 an over. Moving to Melbourne for the second ODI, the English bowlers will have a wicket which supports them and will be looking to make the most of early breakthroughs.
For the hosts, it was a complete bowling effort as everyone stepped up whenever needed with Kim Garth, Annabel Sutherland and Alana King making sure there were regular breakthroughs throughout the innings not letting a partnership grow and it was Ashleigh Gardner wrapping things out with a three-for. While Australia lost Phoebe Litchfield early on in the chase of 205, captain Alyssa Healy’s controlled and calculated 70 guided the hosts home with Ashleigh Gardner coming in with a crucial unbeaten 42 to see Australia home. Gardner’s form with the bat and ball will be a big positive for Healy and she will count on the likes of Perry and Mooney to come good with the bat as well in Melbourne.
The Junction Oval in Melbourne is a low scoring ground and expect a tough game for the batters with the wicket set to quite a bit for the bowlers. It will be the hosts Australia as the favourites again and count on Healy’s girls to lock in and seal the series in Melbourne.
Fantasy XI: Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Lauren Bell, Alana King, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone
Venue: Junction Oval, Melbourne
Winners Prediction: Australia
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