England's hopes of reclaiming the Women's Ashes are over after holders Australia opened up an unassailable 8-0 lead with a 57-run win in the first T20 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Heather Knight's team can still take the series by winning the last two T20s and the one-off Test, but they will not win the trophy that has been in Australia since 2015 after being defeated again.
England, who were beaten 3-0 in the previous ODI series and 6-0 down on points, were dismissed for 141 in 16 overs chasing a record 199, with Sophie Dunkley's 59 off 30 balls in vain.
Dunkley's dismissal – hit by a delivery from Tahlia McGrath who was kept low in the 12th over with 89 runs needed – was a decisive blow for the tourists, who had earlier seen openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge make ducks.
Australia plundered 198-7 after being bowled in, with Beth Mooney (75 off 51) top scoring to register her 24th T20 international 50 after being dropped for 16 by Amy Jones.
England were sloppy in the field – Lauren Bell shelled debutant Georgia Voll (21 off 11) for 13 before being trapped lbw, while Charlie Dean and Nat Sciver-Brunt left each other caught as the tourists also failed to dismiss Mooney 23 – as well as loose with the ball.
Sophie Dunkley's half-century was in vain for England as they went down 8-0 in the multi-format series
Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-26 from her four overs as she finished off enterprising cameos from McGrath (26 off 9) – who captained for Alyssa Healy (foot pain) – and Grace Harris (14 off 8), with every other member of the England attack being whipped for eight runs or more.
The series resumes in Canberra on Thursday, before the final T20 in Adelaide on Saturday, followed by a pink-ball Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from January 30.
After that, it will be decision time for England, with the futures of captain Heather Knight and head coach Jon Lewis likely to be up for debate.
Dunkley's dazzling knocking comes in a loss
England needed to match the national T20 run record of 199 they scored against India in Mumbai in 2018, but suffered a terrible start as Bouchier hit her second ball to deep mid-wicket, before Wyatt-Hodge snuffled behind the first deliveries – Megan Schutt and Kim Garth wicket-takers respectively.
Dunkley and Sciver-Brunt (20 off 12) hit back, adding 44 off 18 balls, all in boundaries, only for the latter to be bowled by Alana King (2-14) off the first ball that slid into low.
Dunkley continued though, making his fourth T20I 50 off 24 balls in a 48 off 36 deliveries with Knight before King bowled the skipper lbw just after drink.
With Dunkley gone, England folded, losing their last six wickets for 31 runs as Australian spinner Georgia Wareham claimed 3-25.
Phoebe Litchfield ran out Heather Knight after scoring 25 off 20 balls
Earlier, Mooney was supported with the bat mainly by Voll, McGrath and Phoebe Litchfield, with the latter's 25 off 20 balls including an outrageous switch-hitting six.
Voll made his debut following Healy's injury, which could still rule the skipper out of the rest of the series.
With the Ashes on hold, Australia can afford to be cautious with Healy, although they will be determined to win the series after only securing a draw in England in 2023.
Women's Ashes – results and fixtures
All UK and Ireland dates and times
- First ODI: Saturday January 11 – Australia won by four wickets
- Other ODIs: Monday 13 January – Australia won by 21 runs
- Third ODI: Thursday 16 January – Australia won by 86 runs
- First T20I: Monday 20 January – Australia won by 57 runs
- Second T20I: Thursday 23 January (8.40am) – Canberra
- Third T20I: Saturday, January 25 (8.10am) – Adelaide
- Test: Thursday 30 January – Sunday 2 February (3.30am) – Melbourne