Highlights: Perry, Lanning spark big Stars win

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have wrapped up the ODI leg of the Women’s Ashes 2-1 with an 89-run thrashing of England in Worcester.

Allrounder Ellyse Perry was the standout for the victors, scoring a quick-fire 67 and taking two vital wickets with the new ball to cap off a brilliant one-day international campaign as player of the series.

Southern Stars skipper Meg Lanning top scored for the second-straight match with 85, aided by Perry and opener Nicole Bolton (40) as the visitors compiled 7-241 from 50 overs.

England’s run chase never got going after Perry removed heavyweights Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor in her first two overs as the hosts were bowled out for 152 with help from Kristen Beams (3-13) and Sarah Coyte (2-38).

Captain Lanning says the turnaround from the early loss in Taunton was born from backing their ability and playing the aggressive cricket that's made them world champions in limited-overs cricket.

"We were a bit timid in the first game," Lanning said.

"England played really well and then we were able to come back, enjoy our cricket, back ourselves.

"The more aggressive we are the better we play so that was a common theme we had going.

"It was just about enjoying ourselves and backing our preparation all through the winter and just coming out performing and putting on a show for the crowd and on TV as well."

The win moves the Southern Stars to four points after the one-day portion of the multi-format competition and head into the one-off Test match starting on August 11 in Canterbury with a two-point advantage.

Australia made a cautious start after they were sent in by England captain Edwards, soaking up 48 dot balls in the first 10 overs - but crucially without losing a wicket - to be 0-24.

However, seven balls after the powerplay Elyse Villani fell in the deep for 14 to bring Lanning and Bolton together for the match’s first half-century partnership.

England had a golden chance to end Lanning’s stay on five when the Australian skipper was left stranded in the middle of the wicket after a mix-up with Bolton only for bowler Georgia Elwiss to fumble the accurate throw at the non-striker’s end.

England blow an early opportunity to dismiss Australia skipper Meg Lanning in the third ODI at Worcester (restrictions apply)

Bolton ticked along to 40 after a measured start but an attempted lofted drive found Laura Marsh at mid-off, earning Natalie Sciver her sole wicket of the match.

Alyssa Healy’s promotion to No.4 was short-lived, out for a tidy 17, but the injection of energy she delivered spurred Lanning on past her half-century after she survived another chance, dropped by Lydia Greenway at backward point on 46.

Southern Stars skipper Meg Lanning survived a run-out and was dropped, making the most of it to lead the Australians with 85 at Worcester (restrictions apply)

The remainder of the innings was dominated by Lanning and Perry, who combined for 85 before the former was caught on the long-off rope aiming for six.

After lifting the Australians to 241 with a fluent 58-ball 67, Perry proved her all-round class by finding the outside edge of Edwards’ bat after four balls on naught and then bowling the dangerous Taylor via an inside edge for one in her following over.

Matters got worse for the hosts when Lauren Winfield was sent back for a single and was run out by a sharp piece of fielding by Bolton at square-leg.

England steadied between two bouts of rain through Greenway and Knight, but when the latter walked across her stumps and was bowled behind her legs by Jess Jonassen for 38, England were in dire straits at 4-72.

Katherine Brunt was elevated in the batting order to add some much needed oomph into the run chase, and the move was working when the hard-hitting allrounder belted the first six of the Ashes over square-leg off Jonassen.

A 51-run partnership restored some faith for England fans in a miracle comeback, but when Greenway sliced Coyte to Jonassen at backward point on the batting powerplay, England lost 6-29, three to the leg-spin of Beams, to surrender the vital two-points on offer.

England fast bowler Anya Shrubsole says the Test match now holds the key if the hosts are to retain the Ashes.

"We were outplayed by Australia in all three departments again, the same as Bristol," Shrubsole said.

"I think what is important now is that we go away and regroup and come back in Canterbury hard.

"The series isn’t over by any stretch of the imagination if we play well in the Test match and win, we are right back in it.

"Of course we are disappointed about today but we have to come back hard in Canterbury."