Australia captain Meg Lanning scored her sixth one-day international century as her side leveled the Women’s Ashes series with a 63-run win over England in Bristol on Thursday.
Lanning’s 104 was the cornerstone of Australia’s 259-6 in 50 overs.
England, despite a half-century from veteran captain Charlotte Edwards, finished well short of what would have been a record chase as seamer Megan Schutt took four for 47.
Victory saw Australia level the multiformat Ashes at 2-2 after holders England won Tuesday’s first one-day international by four wickets.
It also meant they had followed the example of the men’s side, also touring England, who won the second Test at Lord’s in London on Sunday to square their Ashes series at 1-1.
Lanning and the in-form Ellyse Perry added 132 for the third wicket.
The Australia skipper, dropped on 72 and 83, eventually compiled a century off just 92 balls, before she was stumped for 104 by Sarah Taylor off Natalie Sciver.
In reply, England saw Edwards and Heather Knight put on 92 for the first wicket, before the latter was run out by Lanning’s direct hit from midwicket.
Schutt then bowled Edwards as she took one of the most prized wickets in women’s cricket.
Taylor was in fine form while making 43 of 49 balls, before falling to Jess Jonassen.
“I thought we did a good job with the bat and it’s nice to get a big score after not getting any at Taunton,” Lanning said. “It’s nice to have got a win after that first game.”
Meanwhile, a disappointed Knight said: “Wickets cost us, throughout our innings.”
“Obviously, as a top order, all three of us got starts. Ideally, if you are going to win the game, one of us needed to go on and got a big score as Meg did for them,” she said.
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