The women’s Ashes will remain in Australia’s possession after the injury-plagued hosts clinched a 57-run victory over England in Monday evening’s first T20 at the SCG.

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The Australians, who were missing captain Alyssa Healy (foot soreness) and all-rounder Ash Gardner (calf strain) due to injury, have taken an unassailable 8-0 lead in the multi-format series, retaining the coveted trophy for a sixth-consecutive campaign.

Chasing a 199-run target for victory, England was bowled out for 141 in 16 overs after leg-spinners Alana King (2-14 from three overs) and Georgia Wareham (3-25 from three overs) ripped through the middle order. Sophia Dunkley slapped a 24-ball fifty, the second-fastest half-century against Australia in women’s T20Is, that featured six boundaries and four sixes, but her counterpunching knock was the lone highlight in an otherwise deflating evening for the tourists.

Earlier, Australia posted 7-198 courtesy of a stylish 75 (51) from opener Beth Mooney, later named player of the match, who also donned the gloves in Healy’s absence.

MATCH CENTRE: Australia women vs England first T20 scorecard

“Job’s not done … we’re out here to win it outright,” King told Fox Cricket after the match.

“We’re not going to stop. We want to be relentless, we want to be ruthless in the way we play, and continue having fun, because winning’s bloody fun.”

England can still draw the series by winning both of the remaining T20s and next week’s pink-ball Test at the MCG, but that wouldn’t be enough to break the nation’s 11-year Ashes drought.

“We’re obviously very disappointed with the result today,” Dunkley said during the post-match press conference.

“We just couldn’t put them under pressure for long enough today and we’ve come away falling short.

“But there’s still eight points out there to get, so we’re going to do everything we can to try and come away with those eight points.

“There’s still a lot for us to play for going into the next few games.”

After captain Heather Knight won the toss and chose to bowl first, the tourists were guilty of misfields, overthrows, wayward bowling, dropped catches and ill-judged reviews as Australia clobbered 38 runs from the opening three overs. Bowler Lauren Bell dropped a regulation chance to gift debutant Georgia Voll an extra life on 13 but redeemed herself the following over by trapping the Queenslander on the pads for 21.

Wicketkeeper Amy Jones put down a tough chance behind the stumps before Phoebe Litchfield nailed a reverse slog sweep over the boundary rope for Australia’s first six of the evening. England’s woes continued later in the same over when a miscued drive from Mooney landed safely between two fielders, who stared at each other as the ball thudded into the turf.

Mooney and Litchfield combined for a 51-run partnership for the second wicket before Knight nailed a direct hit at the non-striker’s end from cover to send the Orange product packing for 25.

Litchfield’s departure prompted a brief collapse of 3-30 with all-rounders Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland both falling to spin, stumped and caught at cow corner respectively. England opener Maia Bouchier looked in strife after landing awkwardly on her shoulder in the outfield but was thankfully able to continue following a lengthy medical assessment.

Captain Tahlia McGrath smacked a rapid 26 before a flurry of late wickets, including a superb stumping from Jones to end Mooney’s masterclass in the 18th over.

England’s run chase got off to a dreadful start with both openers departing for a duck; Bouchier picked out deep square leg before Danni Wyatt-Hodge edged an outswinger towards first slip, where Litchfield held onto a low chance. Later in the Powerplay, all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt was bowled for 20 after missing a half-tracker from King, who was playing her first T20I since February 2023.

“It wasn’t the greatest delivery,” King laughed.

“I’m pretty pumped to be back in the T20 side.”

Dunkley cracked 22 runs off an over from seamer Kim Garth to send a scare through the Australian camp, but skipper McGrath toppled her for 59 (30) after the drinks break to ruin any chance of an English comeback.

Earlier, Voll received her maiden cap from Sydney Thunder teammate Litchfield to become the 61st woman to represent Australia in T20Is.

The second T20 between Australia and England gets underway at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 7.15pm AEDT.

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