Australia retain Women's Ashes after winning first ODI

Despite being restricted to a mediocre score, Meg Lanning's bowlers ensured England were unable to launch a series fightback at Canberra

Canberra: Australia 205-9, England 178 - Australia win by 27 runs

Australia have retained the Women's Ashes, beating England by 27 runs in the first ODI to claim an unassailable lead in the multiformat series.

Following the drawn Test, the tourists knew they had to win all three 50-over games in order to overhaul Meg Lanning's side, who until losing against India late last year had gone 26 ODIs without defeat.

For a while, England appeared well placed to earn the first of three wins necessary, restricting their hosts to 205 for 9, with only Beth Mooney passing fifty.

But in reply, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight fell in successive deliveries during the fourth over to put a significant dent in a chase that never recovered. There was resistance from Nat Sciver, who made 45, while Katherine Brunt was unbeaten on 32 when the final wicket fell. Overall, though, England had blown a glorious chance.

Eighteen-year-old Darcie Brown was the star for Australia – an ominous sign with the future in mind. She dismissed Beaumont and Knight, whose remarkable record at Manuka Oval was dented by a first-ball duck, before catching Sciver off her own bowling just as the allrounder was looking to mount her lone charge towards the victory target. Sophie Ecclestone was her fourth victim.

Lauren Winfield-Hill, without a half century in England colours since 2016, looked in good touch but pulled to deep midwicket, while Amy Jones was caught in the same region, albeit off a high full toss that ought to have been deemed a no ball by third umpire Eloise Sheridan, who spent an eternity watching replays but thought otherwise.

Tahlia McGrath, a star in this series for Australia, trapped Sophia Dunkley in front, before Danni Wyatt was undone by a perfect leg-cutter from Megan Schutt, while Anya Shrubsole was bowled by Jess Jonassen as she looked to sweep.

^{Amy Jones was controversially dismissed by Tahlia McGrath (Mark Evans/Getty Images)}

The left-arm spinner completed the job, catching Kate Cross off her own bowling just as it was beginning to look like the tenth-wicket pair might fancy another blockbuster finish.

Having won the toss and elected to field on a surface that offered plenty to the seamers, England will have been desperately frustrated by what transpired. Rachael Haynes made just four, Ellyse Perry – like Knight – fell first ball, and neither Lanning nor Alyssa Healy could pass 30.

England's bowlers, led by Kate Cross, were superb, with Healy stumped superbly by Jones after Cross passed her outside edge. A matter of minutes prior, Lanning had been castled by a delivery from Cross that did the opposite, jagging back sharply through the gate.

The hosts' innings was propped up by Beth Mooney, who made 73 – the only half century on either side, and a knock that further underpinned her credentials as the leading player in the world on recent form, even with a fractured jaw.

She was ably supported by McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner, before Alana King provided the late support needed to drag Australia past 200, a chase that England were ultimately unable to reel in.

Two ODIs remain before the teams head to New Zealand for the World Cup, where Australia will be clear favourites to take England's crown.