England struggled to see the back of Australia as they persisted with the bat in the first session of the day. Concluding on 473 all out, it was Sophie Ecclestone who excelled with the ball, taking her maiden five-for in Test cricket. Just before tea, England had their first opportunity with the bat, Tammy Beaumont with a formidable innings of 100*, ending the day on 218/2.
With plenty of cloud cover, day two of the Women’s Ashes Test Match opening with Lauren Bell ploughing in from the Radcliffe Road End with Alana King and Annabel Sutherland in the middle for Australia.
Another frustrating spell was present in the first session, both King and Sutherland surpassing their highest international totals with the bat. Sutherland brought up her inaugural international half-century from 100 balls.
After two unsuccessful appeals, England found their first breakthrough of the day, with middle and off stump rattled back by Lauren Bell to see King head back to the pavilion for 21.
England’s fatigue showed as Australia’s 400 came up in the 109th over – a milestone the Aussies would have been keen to reach.
The first century of the game occurred when 21-year-old Annabel Sutherland brought up her maiden international 100, her previous highest score in international cricket being 35. The all-rounder has previously been compared to teammate and Australian icon, Ellyse Perry – the century being clear evidence to support that comparison. Sutherland’s century was the fastest Test Hundred for an Australian woman, bringing it up from 148 balls beating Aussie legend, Belinda Clark’s record.
Lunch was called with Australia piling on 111 runs in the first session, reaching 439/8 after midday.
England returned looking weary, but it was the ever-present Sophie Ecclestone who dismissed Kim Garth after her sluggish 22 runs from 76 deliveries. Once again, it was the Cheshire spinner who concluded Australia’s 1st innings on 473 taking the catch off her own bowling to remove Darcie Brown.
This awarded Ecclestone her maiden Test five-for, recording her best figures of 5/129 from a mammoth 46.2 overs. Although not the greatest morning for England, significantly, it was the first time England have bowled out Australia in a Test innings since the Ashes Test in Perth back in 2014.
It was a tentative start for England as Darcie Brown and Kim Garth opened the bowling, however, Australia’s batting hero, Annabel Sutherland, came into the attack and took the first wicket, Emma Lamb falling for 10.
Sutherland bowled back-to-back maidens to open her spell – the first being a crucial wicket maiden. Knight’s presence at the crease accelerated the run rate slightly with a comfortable Beaumont at the other end.
The final break of the day saw England 68/1 – perhaps another turning point in the game. It was a galvanising moment for batting side as Beaumont and Knight’s partnership developed, the pair both making half centuries in a fine stand.
Australia’s wealth of bowling options proved advantageous as Ash Gardner came into the attack, forcing Heather Knight to depart as she played the ball through to Alyssa Healy.
England showed intent towards the end of the day as Australia's fielding weaknesses were exposed and Beaumont and Nat Sciver-Brunt pressed on, finding the gaps to reach the boundary. To add to the nerves of an invested crowd, Beaumont creeped towards 100, reaching the milestone, pushing for two runs.
Beaumont's century makes her one of very few England cricketers to have reached a century in all three formats.
Play closed with England on 218/2, trailing by 255 runs.
Debutants: Phoebe Litchfield (AUS), Kim Garth (AUS), Lauren Filer (ENG), Danni Wyatt (ENG)
England XI: Tammy Beaumont, Emma Lamb, Heather Knight ©, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell
Australia XI: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Jess Jonassen, Alyssa Healy © (wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Alana King, Kim Garth, Darcie Brown
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