The opening day of the Ashes Test between Australia Women and England Women commenced at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. After winning the toss, Australia Women elected to bat first, hoping to establish a formidable total. By the end of the day’s play, Australia Women had reached a score of 328 for the loss of 7 wickets in 85 overs.
Australia’s innings started on a positive note, with their opening pair, Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield, displaying commendable batting skills. Mooney played with confidence, scoring 33 runs off 57 balls, while Litchfield contributed 23 runs off 32 deliveries before being dismissed.
As the game progressed into the first session, Australia Women reached a score of 100 for the loss of 2 wickets by the time of lunch. The debutant Lauren Filer showcased her talent with the ball by claiming the crucial wicket of Beth Mooney. Meanwhile, Ellyse Perry played a sublime inning, narrowly missing out on a century as she fell agonizingly short, scoring 99 runs off 153 balls. Tahlia McGrath provided valuable support, adding 61 runs off 83 deliveries to the team’s total.
61 (83) 👏🏻🙌🏻
Career Best figures for 🇦🇺 Vice-captain, Tahlia McGrath in Tests.
What a performance! 🌟#CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 📸: Getty pic.twitter.com/HOsUznmap1
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 22, 2023
Moving into the second session leading up to tea, Australia Women further solidified their position, reaching a score of 213 for the loss of 3 wickets. Ashleigh Gardner also made a notable contribution with the bat, scoring a brisk 40 runs off just 36 balls. Annabel Sutherland showcased her resilience, finishing the day unbeaten on 39 runs.
Day 1- Session 2 Update:
• 🇦🇺 Australia in a strong position at tea break
• 113 runs in the session.
• Only 1 wicket for 🏴 England in the session#CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/qxohBz1Y3h— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 22, 2023
Sophie Ecclestone proved to be the primary threat for the Australian batters from the English side, claiming 3 wickets in her 31 overs. Debutant Lauren Filer made an immediate impact, demonstrating her pace and astute bowling to dismiss both Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry on the opening day.
Throughout their innings, Australia Women exhibited determination and resilience. The team achieved several milestones during their batting display, reaching a score of 300 runs. At one stage, rain interrupted the match, causing a temporary halt in play. Additionally, the umpires decided to take the players off the field due to a wet ground. However, once the conditions improved, the game resumed.
Missed her well-deserved Test century by just 1 Run 💔#CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/c2aqB5sez8
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 22, 2023
Day 1 of the Ashes Test witnessed an intense battle between the Australian and English teams. Although Australia held a slight advantage by amassing a substantial total, England managed to continuously chip away at the wickets and restrict the scoring rate. With four more days of thrilling cricket remaining, both teams will be eager to seize the momentum and make a significant impact as the match unfolds.
Ellyse Perry made 99, Tahlia McGrath 61, and Australia have managed to put 328 on board.
Sophie Ecclestone picked 3 and Lauren Filer bagged 2 crucial ones. #CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/bEwm8hcfSy
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 22, 2023
Sports have always been a huge part of my life, and having played cricket professionally for my state team, I gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed in the world of sports. With an eye for detail and passion for sports, I’m hoping to make a lasting impact in the sports industry.