England's miserable Ashes 2022/23 ended with an eight-wicket defeat by Australia in the third and final ODI, in Melbourne. They crawled to 163 after Heather Knight opted to bat. Australia then chased the target with 13.4 overs to spare to finish the multi-format series unbeaten. They won the series 12-4.
England were on the back foot early after debutant Emma Lamb was bowled by Ellyse Perry in the second over for a duck. Knight herself was cleaned up by a Tahlia McGrath yorker in the ninth over, and England were reduced to 19/2.
Tammy Beaumont (50) and Nat Sciver (46) then 88 for the third wicket to take England to 107/2 in 34.1 overs. But once Beaumont fell to Alana King in the 35th over, England only managed to add 56 for their last eight wickets before being bowled out in 49.3 overs.
Annabel Sutherland did the most damage for Australia, with 4-31. Megan Schutt returned 2-25, while Perry, McGrath, King, and Jess Jonassen had one wicket each. They bowled well throughout the innings. In fact, barring Jonassen, no one went at more than four an over.
Alyssa Healy (42) and Rachael Haynes (31) then added 74 in 96 balls for the opening wicket before falling in the space of six balls. The rest was done by Meg Lanning (57*) and Perry (31*), who added an unbroken 90 to see off the target inside 37 overs. Despite receiving little support, Sophie Ecclestone returned excellent figures of 10-2-18-1.
England's only points came in the drawn Test match and two washed out T20Is. They ended the Ashes multi-format series without a win for the first time in their history. England Men and Women played 12 matches in Australia this winter without a win.
England 163 in 49.3 overs (Tammy Beaumont 50; Annabel Sutherland 4-31) lost to Australia 164/2 in 36.2 overs (Meg Lanning 57*; Sophie Ecclestone 1-18) by 8 wickets with 82 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Annabel Sutherland.
Australia won the Ashes 2022/23 12-4. Player of the Series: Tahlia McGrath.