Australia retain Women's Ashes as England beaten again in first T20 international at Sydney Cricket Ground

England's hopes of regaining the Women's Ashes are over after holders Australia opened up an unassailable 8-0 lead with a 57-run victory in the first T20 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Heather Knight's side can still draw the series with victory in the final two T20s and one-off Test but will not win the trophy that has been in Australia's grasp since 2015 after being overpowered again.

England, who had been swept 3-0 in the preceding ODI series to fall 6-0 down on points, were dismissed for 141 in 16 overs chasing a record-equalling 199, with Sophia Dunkley's 59 off 30 balls in vain.

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Dunkley's dismissal - bowled by a Tahlia McGrath delivery that kept low in the 12th over with 89 runs required - was the decisive blow for the tourists, who had earlier seen openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge fall for ducks.

Australia plundered 198-7 after being inserted, with Beth Mooney (75 off 51) top-scoring and registering a 24th T20 international 50 after being dropped on 16 by Amy Jones.

England were sloppy in the field - Lauren Bell shelled debutant Georgia Voll (21 off 11) on 13 before pinning her lbw , while Charlie Dean and Nat Sciver-Brunt left a catch for each other as the tourists also failed to dismiss Mooney on 23 - as well as loose with the ball.

Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers, bagging 2-26 from her four overs as she ended enterprising cameos from McGrath (26 off 9) - who was standing in as captain for Alyssa Healy (foot soreness) - and Grace Harris (14 off 8), with every other member of the England attack flogged for eight runs an over or more.

The series continues in Canberra on Thursday, before the final T20 at Adelaide on Saturday and then the pink-ball Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from January 30.

After that will come decision time for England, with the futures of captain Heather Knight and head coach Jon Lewis likely to be up for discussion.

Dunkley's dazzling knock comes in losing cause

England needed to match the national record T20 run chase of 199 they achieved against India in Mumbai in 2018 but suffered a dreadful start as Bouchier swatted her second ball to deep midwicket, before Wyatt-Hodge snicked behind first delivery - Megan Schutt and Kim Garth the wicket-takers respectively.

Dunkley and Sciver-Brunt (20 off 12) countered, adding 44 from 18 balls, all in boundaries, only for the latter to be bowled by Alana King (2-14) from the leg-spinner's first ball, which skidded through low.

Dunkley continued, though, powering her way to a 24-ball, fourth T20I 50 in a stand of 48 from 36 deliveries with Knight (18 off 20) prior to the captain being pinned lbw by King straight after drinks.

When Dunkley departed, England folded, losing their last six wickets for 31 runs as Australia spinner Georgia Wareham claimed 3-25.

Earlier, Mooney was backed up with the bat principally by Voll, McGrath and Phoebe Litchfield, with the latter's 25 from 20 balls including an outrageous switch hit for six.

Voll was handed a debut following Healy's injury, which could yet rule the skipper out of the rest of the series.

With the Ashes retained, Australia can afford to be careful with Healy, although they will be determined to win the series outright after only securing a draw in England in 2023.

Women's Ashes - results and fixtures

All dates and times UK and Ireland

• First ODI: Saturday January 11 - Australia won by four wickets
• Second ODI: Monday January 13 - Australia won by 21 runs
• Third ODI: Thursday January 16 - Australia won by 86 runs
• First T20I: Monday January 20 - Australia won by 57 runs
• Second T20I: Thursday January 23 (8.40am) - Canberra
• Third T20I: Saturday January 25 (8.10am) - Adelaide
• Test: Thursday Jan 30-Sunday Feb 2 (3.30am) - Melbourne

(c) Sky Sports 2025: Australia retain Women's Ashes as England beaten again in first T20 international at Sydney Cricket Ground