England beat Australia by seven wickets to win the first of three Twenty 20 Internationals to keep alive the hopes of retaining the Ashes. Australia still lead the series 8-4 after earlier winning the test match and two out of three ODI's, with just two more T20's remaining (both worth two points).
Needing to win all three T20's to draw the series and keep hold of the Ashes, England made the perfect start as Anya Shrubsole backed up a great first over from Katherine Brunt by dismissing opener Elyse Villani in the following over. That wicket brought Aussie captain Meg Lanning to the crease, joining Ellyse Perry who was opening, and the pair started to build a dangerous partnership. Danielle Hazell, recalled to the England squad for these T20 matches, struck in the tenth over having Lanning caught by Lydia Greenway inside the Cow Corner boundary.
With 5 overs remaining, Australia had reached 84-4 after losing the wickets of Perry (30) and Jess Jonassen (15). The next batter was Queensland youngster Grace Harris, but she was run out by Shrubsole for a run-a-ball 3. The experienced Alex Blackwell fell not long after, caught at mid-off by Schrubsole off the bowling of Jenny Gunn. And the visitors were seven down after great fielding from Brunt to run out Alyssa Healy for 4 runs. And new batter Erin Osborne only lasted one ball before becoming Australia's third run out victim, leaving the visitors on 111-8. And Australia survived the final over without losing anymore wickets, despite a miss-hit from Jess Cameron and umpire review when Sarah Coyte needed a dive to get home.
After being set 123 to win, England got off to a slow start, scoring just four runs from the first two power play overs, before opener Lauren Winfield was caught easily by Villani at mid-on as she tried to force the pace. Sarah Taylor then joined her captain Charlotte Edwards in the middle, as the pair scored freely to put the hosts on 62-1 at the 10 over mark. With the partnership picking up speed, Osborne made the breakthrough, having Edwards stumped by Healy for 39.
That brought Natalie Sciver to the crease, who started well including an impressive pull shot which scored four runs. Not long after Taylor reached her half century from 42 balls, but got out next ball stumped by Healy off the bowling of Osborne again. With 25 balls remaining, England needed just 19 runs to reach their target.
The prize wicket of Taylor brought Brunt to the middle, promoted up the order to five for this match after great contributions with the bat so far in this series. Despite Lanning bringing back strike bowler Perry, Sciver and Brunt reached the total with fifteen balls to spare. The win means England continued their winning record at The Essex County Ground, also known as 'Fortress Chelmsford', having never lost in six matches. England have kept the Ashes alive, and with it ended Australia's run of 16 T20 wins in a row. The second Twenty-20 is at Hove on Friday, where Australia have another chance to win the Ashes.