AUSTRALIA has retained the Women’s Ashes once again, after winning the first T20 of the series last night to take an unassailable lead in the points tally.

Australia first posted 7/198 from its 20 overs last night, before then bowling out the English for just 141.

Australian openers Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll were not wasting any time when they got out to the crease, going upwards of 10 runs an over at times. They had already made 40 runs inside three and a half overs before ultimately losing the first wicket.

That opening partnership set the tone for much of the Australian innings, as despite a light wobble in the middle of the innings, there was also plenty of runs and big partnerships.

Mooney was the backbone of the innings, blasting 75 off just 51 balls. Voll also had speed on her mind, smacking 26 off just nine balls.

Meanwhile for the English, Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone were the pick of the bowlers after they claimed a pair of wickets each.

In the chase, the fact that England fell to 1/0 on the second ball of its innings truly was a sign of things to come.

As much as Sophia Dunkley (59 from 30) and to a lesser extent Natalie Sciver-Brunt (20 from 12) tried their hardest to get their side to the total, once the wickets really started to tumble, things really fell apart for the visitors. They lost their last five wickets for just 31 wickets to be all out on the final ball of the 16th over.

Once again spin was the key for the Australians, with Georgia Wareham picking up three wickets and Alana King taking two of them. Every bowler used took at least one wicket for the victors.