Alana King delighted with Women's Ashes clean sweep after Test match trouncing - '16-0 has a really nice ring to it'
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Updated 01/02/2025 at 11:37 GMT
Australia had already secured a series victory in the Women's Ashes before a ball was bowled in the one-off Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. However, they did not let their standards slip and wrapped up a clean sweep with a victory over their rivals. Beth Mooney starred with the bat, producing a knock of 106 to become the first Australian woman to score a century in all three formats.
Australia's Alana King celebrates dismissing England's Nat Sciver-Brunt on the third day of the Women's Ashes cricket Test match between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on February 1, 2025.
Image credit: Getty Images
Alana King admitted that 16-0 had a nice ring to it after Australia secured a Women's Ashes clean sweep on day three of the one-off Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The hosts won by an innings and 122 runs after a stunning performance with bat and ball.
Beth Mooney hit 106 to become the first Australian woman to score a century in all three formats of the game and help her side win the series 16-0.
Sophie Ecclestone starred with the ball in hand for the visitors, picking up 5-143 and helping England take Australia's last five wickets for just nine runs.
The hosts had already sealed a series victory before the start of play, having recorded wins in all three T20s and the trio of ODIs.
King was proud of her teammates after a dominant showing in the Women's Ashes.
"16-0 has a really nice ring to it. I could not be prouder of the girls and how we have played the last month of cricket," said Player of the Series King.
"We had our backs against the wall at times but for us to play the way we want to play and hopefully entertain everyone that came out was a brilliant effort from all of us.
"I have had fun from the get-go, to be honest. I am always happy to have the ball in my hand.
"The skipper knows that and it is sometimes hard to get the ball out of my hand. I love bowling for this team and to try to contribute to wins.
"I am just stoked that it is a great win and we are going to enjoy tonight."
Mooney was two runs shy of her century when play resumed at the start of day three, with the hosts on 422-5.
Tahlia McGrath was the first to go on day three, caught by Lauren Bell off Ecclestone's delivery.
Kim Garth and Alana King fell in quick succession to leave the hosts on 437-8.
Mooney finally went as the Australian collapse continued before Ellyse Perry was caught by Ecclestone off her own delivery to leave Australia on 440, 270 runs ahead of their opponents.
Maia Bouchier was bowled by King as England got their second innings underway.
Heather Knight was the next to go, leaving her side on 79-2 before Nat Sciver-Brunt was bowled lbw.
Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Tammy Beaumont all fell in quick succession to leave the visitors on 109-6.
Amy Jones was caught by Mooney and Ryana MacDonald-Gay was caught by Darcie Brown to leave the visitors on 122-8.
Ecclestone went with England on 134-9 to leave Australia needing one more wicket to complete the victory.
And it eventually came as Lauren Filer was caught by Annabel Sutherland, bowling England out for 148 to formalise the clean sweep.
Phoebe Litchfield added it felt amazing to complete the clean sweep after producing a knock of 45 in Melbourne.
"It's so good. The crowd was awesome here and the way that Melbourne, let alone Australia, has got around us is great," said Litchfield.
"We've played an exciting brand of cricket and it is awesome to whitewash them to be fair. The hunger and fight is there.
"I am surprised but not surprised [about the clean sweep].
"The way we have played, the way we have trained, we have spoken about our cricket and been super honest and reflected really well on our poor performances.
"To execute the whitewash is awesome. In those 50-50 moments when it was us or the English, we've snapped it up. That's the difference."
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