All-conquering Aussies take out ICC Championship

With a world record in their sights, Australia laid claim to yet another piece of silverware during their series-sealing victory over Sri Lanka in the second ODI.

Australia’s 110-run win at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field was their 17th consecutive win in the format, equalling the record run Belinda Clark’s Australian team enjoyed between December 1997 and February 1999 – and they’ll have a record-breaking 18th triumph in their sights in Wednesday’s third and final one-dayer.

Monday’s result also saw Meg Lanning’s team take an unassailable lead in the ICC Women’s ODI Championship, a three-year, round-robin competition between the world’s top eight teams.

They now sit on 32 points – from a possible 34 – after 17 of 21 matches.

England, sitting second on 24 points, have just three matches left to play in this edition of the Championship and can only finish on a maximum of 30 points.

But Australia are unlikely to take officially ownership of the Championship plate until their final round of matches, an ODI series against South Africa next March.

"I think it’s really good reward for our consistent performances over the last little bit," Australia vice-captain Rachael Haynes said following Monday's win.

"There’s been some terrific individual performances as well within that, but holistically the team has been playing really well and that’s probably been the most pleasing thing."

Australia also took out the first edition of the Championship, which ended in November 2016, winning 18 of their 21 matches.

Image Id: C3510BE2CEDF44E3BA91E716F7606B88 Image Caption: Australia took out the first edition of the Championship in 2016 // Getty

Their dominance of this edition has been something else yet again.

From 17 Championship one-dayers played since the start of the 2017 Ashes, Australia have dropped just one match – the third game of that multi-format series against England in Coffs Harbour.

Since, they’ve recorded series sweeps against India, Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies, and currently hold a 2-0 lead in the ongoing contest against Sri Lanka.

The overall ODI win streak record – a 21-match run Ricky Ponting’s Australians enjoyed in 2003 – will be within reach in South Africa next year.

"I'm not sure if all our team was alive back then," Haynes said of Belinda Clark's record-making team.

"That era, that generation of cricketers were so formidable and they had a lot of success as well.

"It really created the standard in terms of what’s expected when you play cricket in this team.

"If we get past that milestone it’ll be a pretty wonderful achievement, but it's not lost on us how incredible they were as well.

"They fought extremely hard, and they represented their country at a time where not only did you have to juggle full-time work and those things, but also get physically and mentally to the best of your ability.

"They were trailblazers and they laid a fantastic trail for us."

The Championship, which sees the top eight nations play each other in three ODIs across a three-year period, determines the teams that automatically qualify for the next 50-over World Cup, to be played in New Zealand in 2021.

Australia cemented their place at the tournament during their recent one-day whitewash against the West Indies – a fait accompli given their results – and will be joined by the next three highest qualifiers plus hosts New Zealand.

The remaining three teams will play off for a berth at the ICC tournament during a qualifying event in Sri Lanka next year. 

Australia’s run in the ICC Women’s Championship

Australia v England, October 2017

First ODI: Australia won by 2 wickets
Second ODI: Australia won by 75 runs
Third ODI: England won by 20 runs

India v Australia, March 2018

First ODI: Australia won by 8 wickets
Second ODI: Australia won by 60 runs
Third ODI: Australia won by 97 runs

Pakistan v Australia, October 2018

First ODI: Australia won by 5 wickets
Second ODI: Australia won by 150 runs
Third ODI: Australia won by 89 runs

Australia v New Zealand, March 2019

First ODI: Australia won by 5 runs
Second ODI: Australia won by 95 runs
Third ODI: Australia won by 7 wickets

Australia v West Indies, September 2019

First ODI: Australia won by 8 wickets
Second ODI: Australia won by 151 runs
Third ODI: Australia won by 178 runs

Australia v Sri Lanka, October 2019

First ODI: Australia won by 157 runs
Second ODI: Australia won by 110 runs

CommBank Series v Sri Lanka

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns (T20I only), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Sri Lanka T20I squad: Chamari Atapattu (c), Harshitha Madavi, Shashikala Siriwardena, Anushka Sanjeewani, Hansima Karunaratne, Yashoda Mendis, Nilakshi De Silva, Dilani Manodara, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandhika Kumari, Inoshi Fernando, Achini Kulasooriya, Udeshika Probodhani, Ama Kanchana.

First T20I: Australia won by 41 runs

Second T20I: Australia won by 9 wickets

Third T20I: Australia won by 132 runs

First ODI: Australia won by 157 runs

Second ODI:Australia won by 110 runs

Third ODI: October 9, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10.10am AEDT

*All ODIs are ICC Women's Championship matches