It takes conscious effort from the entire batting unit to propel the opposition and get to a formidable 1st innings score. Through the different phases of the game, batters need to adjust and steady the ship accordingly to exceed the projected score and deposit pressure back into the opposition’s pavilion.
473 AUS v ENG, Nottingham 2023
The ongoing Ashes test saw the highest first-innings score in history bundled by the Southern Stars. The innings saw two half-centuries from Ellyse Perry (99) and Tahlia McGrath (61). In addition to this, the main stage was occupied by Annabel Sutherland who scored her maiden test hundred. The total was achieved by useful 20s and 30s throughout the batting order, as England’s wicket-taking knack dried up through the course of the innings.
Day 2: Lunch
Batting at no.8, Annabel Sutherland scores her maiden Test ton as Australia proceeds into Lunch on Day 2 with 439 on board.#CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/HbLYs1HXpO
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 23, 2023
426/9d IND v ENG, Blackpool 1986
Second, on the list are the women in blue with 426/9d against England back in 1986 at Blackpool. The Edulji-led side got off to a fearless start as the top 4 batters encashed on the batting-friendly strip. Gargi Banerjee (60), Sandhya Agarwal (132), Shubhangi Kulkarni (78), and Rajani Venugopal (55) architected the famous innings and left England with a mammoth task at hand. The match ended in a draw as it remained batting-friendly throughout the course of the days.
426/7d PAK v WI, Karachi 2004
Pakistan slates their name in the list with the same score as India but with fewer wickets lost. Their 426/7d against West Indies came at Karachi in 2004. Unlike a well-distributed score card, the Pakistani openers were scintillating with a capital S. Kiran Baluch (242) and Sajjida Shah (98) stitched an opening partnership of 241 which lit up Karachi and deposited Pakistan into the driver’s seat in the contest. However, the game eventually ended in a draw.
420/8d AUS v ENG, Taunton 2019
At number 4 we have Australia’s 420/8d against England at Taunton. The 2019 Ashes test saw a special first inning. It included Healy’s (58), skipper Lanning’s (57), Rachael’s (87), Perry’s instrumental (116), and Mooney’s (51). A well-rounded innings is often the recipe for a mammoth score and Australia proved just that. Perry was declared the player of the match for her artistry all-round performance.