England hope Amy Jones can take heart from her batting display

England hope Amy Jones can take heart after her dazzling batting display gave them a fighting chance in defeat to Australia… though she insists she can take NO satisfaction despite finishing unbeaten on 40 from 21 balls

  • England hope Amy Jones will build upon her impressive batting display 
  • Jones finished unbeaten on 40 from 21 balls in England’s defeat to Australia 
  • Australia’s Jess Jonassen praised her team-mate Beth Mooney, who stood out

When the pain of defeat slowly ebbs away, England will hope Amy Jones can take heart from her impressive batting display.

Entering the crease at number six, her side were in danger of posting an under-par total in what was effectively a must-win game if England were to stand any realistic chance of reclaiming the women’s Ashes for the first time since 2014.

Instead, what ensued was an innings of clean ball-striking which saw Jones finish unbeaten on 40 from only 21 balls and England to a competitive total of 153.

England have not always seen the best of Jones in the shortest format of the game. In fact, before last night, the wicketkeeper batswoman averaged just nine against Australia in Twenty20 cricket.

But on Saturday evening she dazzled in front of more than 20,000 at Edgbaston to give England a fighting chance.

Amy Jones produced an encouraging batting display despite England’s loss to Australia

Asked whether it was her best innings for England to-date, Jones said: ‘I think it’s up there. By the end I really enjoyed it. I highlighted with coaches how I wanted to play in this Twenty20 because I was disappointed with my last innings in the Test.

‘I think I can take a lot of confidence from it for sure. That’s how I want to go out and bat in every game so when it comes off I can take a lot of confidence. Satisfaction? I don’t think I feel that right now.’

England’s 153 always looked on the light side against an Australia side stocked with batting firepower.

Opener Beth Mooney kept her cool and played an exceptional, experienced hand. She was there from the start of the chase until the end, finishing unbeaten on 61.

The beauty of the 29-year-old’s innings was the simplicity of it. She was content to knock the ball into the gaps to rotate the strike and when the bad ball came her way, she made sure to put it away.

A late flurry of wickets made things interesting but ultimately Mooney’s efforts mean Australia are already one win away from securing a series draw and retaining the women’s Ashes with five white ball games left to play.

Australia opener Beth Mooney kept her cool and played an exceptional, experienced hand

Jess Jonassen praised team-mate Mooney, saying she ‘has a phenomenal record in chasing’

‘She’s incredible and has a phenomenal record in chasing,’ said teammate Jess Jonassen, who took 3-25 with the ball. ‘She just knows the tempo to go at and she’s quite an incredible manipulator of the field.

‘I always find her one of the hardest people to bowl at in the nets so it’s nice in international cricket when she’s on my side. She’s just doing Beth Mooney things pretty much.’

There were nervy moments, particularly when Sarah Glenn took two wickets in as many balls and left Sophie Ecclestone with five to defend off the final over.

But as they so often do, Australia found a way to get over the line. On this occasion it was a four-wicket win with only one ball to spare, something Jones says England should take encouragement from.

‘The gap feels like it’s closing,’ said Jones. ‘They have been formidable, really, over the last few years and we’ve felt like underdogs the whole way through. But confidence is growing and that’s an exciting feeling for us.’

Jones says it feels like the gap is closing on Australia and it feels like ‘confidence is growing’

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