Australia claim Women's Ashes victory with two ODI's to spare

The Women's Ashes will remain in Australia's possession, as England were beat in the seven event multi-format tournament despite two ODI's remaining.

Australia have retained the Women's Ashes, beating England only partially through the multi-format tournament.

Women's Ashes 2022

Australia have won the 2022 Women's Ashes, beating England
A T20 win, a Test draw and an ODI win was enough to retain the title.
Two ODIs remain in the tournament, with both teams then heading to the World Cup.

More Australian Women's cricket news can be found on The Women's Game.

The 2022 Women's Ashes has not been an easy ride, for either team. The tournament was originally brought forward by a week to deal with quarantine requirements in the upcoming Women's 50-over World Cup in New Zealand.

The multi-format tournament was supposed to include three T20s, one Test and three ODIs started on January 20, 2022. Australian opened the tournament with a win, beating England by nine wickets with eighteen balls left.

However, while the second T20 was started, the game had no result. The third T20 was abandoned before it even began. The points were split for the latter two matches and saw Australia enter the Test match in advance due to their first win.

The long format match between both sides would then end in a nail-bitting finish. England had a fourth-inning chase, one set by Australia captain Lanning who left her opponents needing 257 to win from 48 overs.

The heroics of England skipper Heather Knight, who had registered an amazing 168 not out in the first innings, continued with her getting another 48 runs despite clearly suffering from leg cramps. Her vice-captain Natalie Sciver helped her in the chase, getting 91 runs off 90 deliveries.

Australian teenager Darcie Brown was able to give Knight her marching orders. The Australians then took a more wickets, leaving England nine wickets down with 13 balls to go. Kat Cross and Sophie Eccleston were able to survive, attaining a draw within the Test match.

It's a draw!

What a final day 🙌#Ashes pic.twitter.com/KJbYB4g9hZ
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 30, 2022

Despite those heroics, it was always going to be an uphill battle for the English entering the ODI phase of the tournament. The Australians needed to win just one match to retain the Ashes, which meant that England had to register back-to-back-to-back victories for a win.

It was not to be. Australia would go on to win the first ODI by 27-runs and keep the Ashes firmly in their grasp.

The #Ashes stay with Australia after a 27-run win in the first ODI! pic.twitter.com/75htk8AO2U
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 3, 2022

Darcie Brown would have incredible day, joining Megan Schutt and Charmaine Mason as the only Australian bowlers to have taken four wickets from England in an ODI in Australia.

Two more ODIs, still need to be contested on Sunday and Tuesday, but wins by either side will not change the current result.

Both teams must now refocus as they next feature in the 2022 Women's 50-over World Cup taking place in New Zealand starting in March. Both nations will be joined by hosts New Zealand, South Africa, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies in the month long tournament.