England's Women retain the Ashes

England's women retained the Ashes with a six-wicket victory over Australia in the one-off Test in Bowral. Congratulations!

Australia started the fourth and final day on 195-4, a lead of 105, but Isa Guha took 4-60 and the hosts declared on 231-9 to set England 142 to win.
England reached their target for the loss of four wickets, with Claire Taylor 64 not out and captain Charlotte Edwards hitting the winning runs.

"I'm delighted. To win in Australia is a fantastic feeling," said Edwards after the match.
"We had always said we would come out here and aim to win this match in order to retain the Ashes and that's what we did. I'm so proud of all my players. We have played some fantastic cricket over these past four days to continually have the upper hand over Australia and to pull through and secure victory was a great effort. It was comfortable in the end, but it was a really hard battle. I am just delighted we have managed to win in Australia. It's the hardest pace to win in cricket and it shows the strength in depth we have got, especially with two 18-year-olds in the side. I haven't won a toss all tour and I think it was a turning point. You need that kind of luck sometimes."

Isa Guha (left) was named player of the match after taking 9-100 in Australia's two innings.
She said: "It was brilliant to be playing at the Bradman Oval and it was an extra special win because we knew that people were saying we had only come out for the draw as that would have been enough to retain the Ashes. But we always knew that we were playing for a win and it's great to be part of such a special occasion."

Seam bowler Guha started very well right from day one, when she took 5-40. Australia were bowled out for just 154 after having been put in by England captain Charlotte Edwards, who had won the toss. England was, however, weakened by the unexpected absence of key all-rounder Jenny Gunn, who had failed a fitness test shortly before the match. (Maybe Jenny was working too hard on her blog, which I recommend to everyone. And I hope she will be fit again to play in the upcoming matches in New Zealand). Isa Guha's figures were her best in a Test and she was well supported by Nicky Shaw, who claimed 2-18 from 19 overs.
England needed a solid start in reply and openers Caroline Atkins and Beth Morgan provided it, surviving 15 overs to see the team to 22-0 at stumps.

A record stand from captain Charlotte Edwards (right) and Claire Taylor kept England in a healthy position over Australia on day two. Edwards (94) and Taylor (79) put on 159 for the third wicket, as England reached stumps on 222-7.
Their partnership surpassed England's previous record for a third wicket stand against Australia, the 137 put on by Rachael Heyhoe-Flint and Edna Barker in 1968-69.
England had resumed on 22-0, but then collapsed from 216-4 in the final session, giving the Australians some hope.

On the third day England's women looked to be on course for a draw, to retain the Ashes despite letting Australia recover from 33-3 to 195-4, a lead of 105.
Seamer Isa Guha trapped Melissa Bulow and Australia's captain Karen Rolton lbw, and bowled Alex Blackwell in between.
The excellent Lisa Sthalekar (98 no) added 107 with Shelley Nitschke (36) and 54 unbroken with Kate Blackwell to lift the hosts. However, despite their best efforts, the Aussies could not prevent England winning the match outright, and thus retaining the Women's Ashes.

AUS: 1st innings: 154 (81.5 overs) / 2nd innings: 231-9 (93.0 overs)
ENG: 1st innings: 244 (141.4 overs) / 2nd innings: 144-4 (44.3 overs)