Day 4 Report : Women’s Ashes Test at Taunton

 

Result – Match drawn (Both teams get two points each), Australia Women retain the Ashes Cup

Brief Scorecard:

Australia (1^st innings) – 420/8d (154.4 overs, Run Rate 2.71)

England (1^st innings) – 275/9d (107.1 overs, Run Rate 2.56)

Natalie Sciver – 88 (180) (4s-9)

Amy Jones – 64 (140) (4s-12)

Australia bowling figures –

Sophie Molineux – 37-6-95-4

Jess Jonassen – 21.1-5-50-2

Australia (2^nd innings) – 230/7 (64 overs, Run Rate 3.59)

Ellyse Perry – 76* (144) (4s-9)

Sophie Molineux – 41 (55) (4s-7)

England bowling figures –

Heather Knight – 8-0-25-2

Laura Marsh – 13-2-42-2

Kirstie Gordon – 10-1-50-2

Major Partnership – 3^rd wicket partnership of 52runs (15.5overs) between Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry

5^th wicket partnership of 63runs (17.4overs) between Ellyse Perry and Jess Jonassen

6^th wicket partnership of 53runs (13.1overs) between Ellyse Perry and Sophie Molineux

Player of the Match – Ellyse Perry (116, 76* and one wicket)

Debutants – Australia – Sophie Molineux, Ashleigh Gardner and Tayla Vlaeminck

England – Amy Jones and Kirstie Gordon

Meg Lanning took new bowl on the morning of Day 4. Australia’s vice-captain Alyssa Healy stumped out Anya Shrubsole in the fifth over of the last day with England needing another 61 runs to avoid follow-on. The big moment came in 102^nd over when Natalie Sciver was bowled out by Jess Jonassen making it big harder for England with eight wickets down and 19 runs still required to avoid forced follow-on. But Laura Marsh and Sophie Eccelstone held their nerves as the former hit a four on the third ball of 107^th over to save the follow-on. Heather Knight signaled to declare the England’s 1^st innings as soon as Marsh was given LBW out in the following over.

With 145runs lead, Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes opened up in Australia’s 2^nd innings. Spinner Sophie Eccelstone bowled very tight and created a couple of chances by disturbing Healy in the very first over. At lunch, Australia Women were 13/0 after five overs extending the lead to 158 runs.

Laura Marsh struck twice in her first over and removed both the openers in a space of five balls giving a big boost to England’s hope of pulling out a win from thereon. But Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry had other plans and successfully build a formidable partnership for third wicket as Australia reached 55/2 by the end of 20^th over.

Finding a breakthrough, English skipper brought in young Girstie Gordon into attack and the debutant got Lanning caught out by Geogia Elwiss at covers. Trying to hit a full-toss for a boundary, the Aussies skipper could not time it well and gave a straight catch to the covers fielder. Beth Mooney joined Perry at number 5 and played some classic shots before getting out in 33^rd over as Tammy Beaumont took a stunning catch at short leg to send the batter back to the pavilion.

Batting at 47, Perry took a sharp second run on the first ball of 38^th over sending the on-field umpires upstairs to check for a run-out but TV replays showed that she was just in when Sarah Taylor whipped off the bails. Three balls later, an easy boundary brought up another fifty for the mighty batter. It was just third time a bats(wo)man scored a 100 and a 50 in a Test. With wickets falling at regular intervals on the other end, Perry stood tall and went on to test the patience of bowlers and heading towards another hundred.

England’s wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor hurt her shoulder in 43^rd over and went off field four overs later in order to avoid any further blow. With an extended lead of 210 runs by the end of 48^th over, Australia showed no signs of declaration depicting their intent of retaining the Ashes rather than trying to win the Test.

In a change of bowling, England’s captain Heather Knight came on to bowl for first time in the Test and struck with her golden arm in the very first over to end the innings of Jess Jonassen in 50^th over. After having a splendid run with the ball, debutant Sophie Molineux came out to bat and did another fifty run partnership with Perry only to get bowled out by Gordon in 63^rd over. Ashleigh Gardner came in at number 7 and hit the first six of the match on the last ball of the same over.

With the match heading towards the dead end, handshakes were decided after 64^th over. Knight took her second wicket on the last ball of the match as English players were disappointed a bit for not being able to pull it over even after showing quite a positive intent in Australia’s 2^nd innings. With the draw, Australia Women have retained the Ashes Cup even if there is white-wash in T20 series in England’s favour.

That’s all from the sole Ashes Test… Stay tuned for latest updates on Twitter handle of Femalecricket.