IN THE first Ashes fixture, it was Australian captain Alyssa Healy, along with the all-rounder Ash Gardner that were crucial to the win against England at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.

Winning by four wickets, Australia elected to bowl first, sending England in on what seemed like a solid batting pitch in sunny conditions. The visitors’ senior batters were handed the responsibility of making up a defendable total after openers Tammy Beaumont (13 off 31 deliveries) and Maia Bouchier (nine off 15) were both in the shed after the 13th over.

Skipper Heather Knight (39 off 48) and Natalie Sciver-Brunt (19 off 28) set about trying to build a partnership to last into the innings, however both wickets were taken innocuously by Gardner. After the latter was dismissed, Danni Wyatt-Hodge (38 off 52) and Amy Jones (31 off 30) followed suit but neither got beyond 38 runs.

After Wyatt-Hodge was dismissed, England’s tail was exposed as they were bowled out for just 204 runs in the 44th over.

For the home side, the spread of the wickets taken was fairly even. Uncharacteristically, Megan Schutt looked to have taken the first scalp of Bouchier, however she overstepped which left her wicketless in the match. Gardner led the way with three wickets, with Kim Garth, Annabel Sutherland and Alana King with two each, while pacer Darcie Brown took one.

In the batting innings for the Australians, Gardner added to her three-wicket haul with an unbeaten 42 runs, making the most of the time at the crease and the balls that they had in hand given the low run-rate required to complete the chase.

To start their run chase, it was Phoebe Litchfield (four off eight balls) that was ineffective, dismissed by England quick Lauren Filer. Her opening partner Healy however, produced the highest amount of runs in the game netting 70 off 78 balls, which included 11 fours.

Outside of Gardner and Healy, some of the batters got starts without being able to carry through to the end of the innings. Ellyse Perry only managed 14 off 23, Sutherland chipped in with 10 off 26 and Tahlia McGrath got just two off 14 deliveries by Sophie Ecclestone.

Coming in at four, Beth Mooney (28 off 28) provided assistance to Healy before Gardner came out to the middle, she also managed the highest strike rate of the Australians.

King (11 off 12 not out) had to bat after McGrath fell, enabling Gardner to finish her match-winning innings to win the Player of the Match award. The Australians chased the total down with 11 overs to spare and four wickets in hand.

The next ODI fixture between the teams will take place on Tuesday at the Junction Oval in Victoria.