Heather Knight believes England have cleared a “psychological hurdle” after ending their long wait for victory over Australia at Kia Oval last night.
Knight’s team kept their slim Ashes hopes alive with a three-run victory in the Second T20 of the multi-format series, their first win over the serial world champions in four years.
The triumph was also a first Ashes victory for England - men or women in any format - since 2019, with both teams having gone winless during their 2021/22 tours Down Under.
“It was a bit of a psychological hurdle for us to get over,” Knight said. “Me and [head coach] Jon Lewis talked last night about how once we got over that hurdle, we feel we're going to fly.”
Defeats in the one-off Test and opening T20 had left England 6-0 down in the series and put Australia within one win of retaining the Urn heading into last night’s game, which was played din front of more than 20,000 fans at the Oval.
Danni Wyatt’s 76 off 46 balls saw England defy a middle-order collapse to post 186-9, their highest ever T20 total against Australia, before spinners Sarah Glenn and Sophie Ecclestone took two wickets each as the home side held their nerve despite Ellyse Perry belting the last two deliveries for six to reach her half-century.
“Some of us are a bit emotional as it's been a long time coming," said Glenn. "We've had lots of really close calls and we've always known we can beat them as well.
"It's just actually getting over the line against a top line-up who have had momentum for a long time, so we're really proud.”
The series now heads to Lord’s for Saturday’s final T20, before concluding with next week’s run of three ODIs.
