Dean, too, departs off Gardner's first ball. It was a desperate shot from the batter, but she failed to pick the ball's line properly, finding Litchfield at extra-cover.
Dean, too, departs off Gardner's first ball. It was a desperate shot from the batter, but she failed to pick the ball's line properly, finding Litchfield at extra-cover.
After four singles, Molineux strikes in her penultimate over, getting Capsey out on LBW after the batter swiped and missed. England review the decision, but ball-tracking shows the ball hitting the middle and legs stumps. An excellent partnership comes to an end for England. Sophie Ecclestone is the new batter.
Capsey and Dean are continuing their late surge, following a boundary of Molineux with two fours off Sutherland. The run rate is nearing five at the mmoment, with 250 or more looking within touching distance. That should be a competitive total against Australia in what looks like a very good batting surface.
Charlie Dean and Alice Capsey are at the crease and keeping themselves busy, trying to string together as many runs as possible without taking undue risks. Back-to-back fours by Capsey at the start of the 45th over (from Sutherland) lend the innings some momentum. Can England somehow get to 250 and give themselves a fighting chance?
The Aussie spinners continue to press home the advantage in the middle overs. Annabel Sutherland cleans up Emma Lamb for 7, and Ashleigh Gardner then has Sophia Dunkley stumped by Beth Mooney. England are now six down with 10 overs to go, and a late onslaught from here appears unlikely.
With the runflow stemmed by the spinners, it seemed a matter of time before England would go for the big shots, and the well-set Tammy Beaumont does just that against Annabel Sutherland. But Georgia Voll at long on completes a brilliant catch, grabbing it at the edge, throwing it up, jumping out and leaping back in to pouch the ball safely. Emma Lamb has since joined Sophia Dunkley, with the run rate still under 4.5.
Beaumont and Dunkley rotate the strike well to get five off the over from Gardener. Beaumont hit the final ball hard down the ground to long-off, but it was well fielded at the deep. The pressure remains on the batting side, as it's time for drinks!
Beaumont has a slight cut on her elbow after putting in a dive while running. Two balls later, there's a big shout for caught behind. The umpire gives not out, but Australia review the decision.
Replays show a visible gap between bat and ball, and UltraEdge is flat. Australia lose their review, and Beaumont survives. The batter follows it up with a boundary – the first after 51 deliveries. It's eventually given as a bye, but England won't mind.
A huge LBW shout by King off Beaumont. Maybe there was a bit of bat involved as Australia opt against taking the review. No boundary since the 22nd over for England – their superb start has been completely neutralised by the Australian spinners.
The dot balls are creating pressure on the batters, much to the credit of the Aussie spinners. 30 balls since the last boundary, and the run rate is touching the lower side of four-an-over.
The partnership stands at nine off 28 balls. One of them has to start taking risks if they want to cross 250.
Australia have swarmed the new batter, trying to cut off any opportunity to rotate the strike. Runs are proving hard to come by for England, with just two runs from the last two overs. The run rate as dropped below four-and-half at the moment, with the innings half-way done.
A big wicket for Australia. A little bit of turn from King is enough to bamboozle Sciver-Brunt, who didn't get the perfect contact. An easy catch at mid-off for Sutherland. Sophia Dunkley is the new batter.
After a maiden over from King, England go over the 100-run mark with a double off the first delivery off the 22nd over, and Sciver-Brunt ended it on a high with a boundary off the final ball. The run rate is a touch below five at the moment.
Excellent from Beaumont, reaching her half-century from 59 balls with a classy boundary of Garth. It's all about the placement, and the quick outfield is there to assist. Beaumont has a terrific conversion rate whenever she reaches fifty, and the onus will be on her to lead the Three Lions innings.
Knight is an excellent player of spin, and she showed it against Molineux, charging down the wicket and hitting it over wide mid-off for a boundary. The spinner has a terrific comeback, hitting the pads of Knight. The umpire is not satisfied, but Australia review.
Ball tracker shows that the ball would have hit the middle of leg stump, and Knight has to go! A very good review from the Aussies. Sciver-Brunt is the new batter.
The boundaries have started coming again, with Beaumont and Knight hitting a boundary in the last two overs. Molineux got a big leading edge off Beaumont in the last ball, but it landed safely. Time for drinks.
Knight got lucky as a big inside edge off Sutherland ran away past the wicketkeeper for a boundary. The outfield has extremely quick at Indore, and any bit of contact off the bat is running away for the ropes. Molineux steps up to put the brakes on, conceding just two off her over.
Spin is in, with Molineux is given the ball. Beaumont gives her a harsh welcome, charging down the wicket to dispatch it over mid-wicket for a four. The run rate remains over five at the moment.
A maiden over from Garth brings the first powerplay to a close. England's run rate has dropped below six, with Australia sort of making amends with Jones' wicket and a couple of tight overs at the end. However, the Three Lions have nine wickets at hand.
A quicker one, perfect length and top of the off stump – a dream delivery from Sutherland, and Jones misses it. The off-stump goes flying, and Australia draw first blood with a wicket maiden. Heather Knight is the new batter.
Another big over for England, with Beaumont hitting three consecutive boundaries off Garth. The free-hit in the second over seems to have freed her up, and she is looking dangerous out on the crease today.
Beaumonth ended the sixth over with a boundary off the last ball. McGrath has stuck with her bowlers, and Garth pulled back the scoring rate by conceding just two runs. England, however, are firmly in control at the moment.
A shorter delivery from Schutt is immediately punished by Jones, and she hits it over midwicket for a boundary. With the pressure relieved, the batter follows it up with back-to-back boundaries, with 12 runs coming off the over.
A couple of tight overs have tightened the run rate, with Garth following up her expensive over with a maiden. It's gearing up to be a good contest between bat and ball.
After a *very* tight no-ball from Garth, Beaumont takes full advantage of the free hit, dispatching it straight over the bowler's head for a six. She follows it up with back-to-back boundaries – the latter through leg bye – and England's fine start continues.
Beaumont likes to play against bouncers, and a shorter one from Schutt is dispatched away gladly towards fine leg. A fine start from England in what is a pretty dry pitch at Indore today.
The national anthems are done, and the hands shaken. With the formalities done and dusted, the match is underway. Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont are opening for England, and Megan Schutt has the new ball for Australia. Stay tuned!
Australia: Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney (wk), Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath (c), Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt.
England: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Alice Capsey, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.
Australia captain Tahlia McGrath has won the toss and has elected to field first. McGrath said that her side was "pretty happy to chase under lights".
England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt confirmed that they, too, wanted to chase "for similar reasons", saying that dew might be a factor later.
The ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 matches, including Australia vs England, will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Television broadcasts will take place on the Star Sports Network channels. Follow our detailed live-streaming guide for the AUS-W vs ENG-W match.
Good afternoon, cricket fans! One of the biggest matches of this year’s Women’s ODI World Cup is on offer today, with the last two unbeaten sides going face to face – and only one of them will keep their perfect record intact. The action in Indore begins at 3:00 PM IST, so stay tuned!
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