14 Jul 2009

England women retain Ashes

8:03 am on 14 July 2009

England's women's cricketers have retained the Ashes for the third successive time after drawing the one-off Ashes Test against Australia in Worcester.

Set an improbable target of 273 to win, England stuttered at 39 for 3 before Charlotte Edwards (53) and Beth Morgan (9) guided them to 106-3 at stumps.

Earlier, Australia were dismissed for 231 as they pushed for quick runs, with opener Alex Blackwell finishing on 68.

The result caps off a sensational year for captain Edwards' side, who won the 50-over World Cup in March before adding the World Twenty20 title last month.