Runs scored lower down the order by batting teams are considered gold. It gives them the edge of emerging superior to their opposition when runs come late in the innings with tail-enders guarding their wicket on the other end.
In their first innings, Annabel Sutherland scored her maiden test hundred which included sixteen orchestral boundaries and a six. Coming into bat at number eight and having to deal with tailenders on the other end, she balanced the perfect strike between nailing the boundaries and rotating strike at regular intervals. Her century saw events of aggression, class, and grit.
She becomes the third woman cricketer to score a hundred batting at number 8. The essence of the innings remains significant for a multitude of reasons which include this to be the fastest century by an Australian woman, highest score batting at no.8, and the youngest Australian in 30 years to score a test hundred.
STUNNING SUTHERLAND!!
Goes unbeaten scoring 137 Runs in 184 Balls (16×4, 1×6)#CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/lDiBtNSQ2D
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 23, 2023
As the records went tumbling, so did Australia gain greater command in the game which helped them post 473 and in turn put them in the driver’s seat.
As Annabel tops the chart of fastest hundreds for Australia in tests, it is followed by Jill Kennare who amassed 154 against England in 1984. And then two of Belinda Clarke’s centuries against England and India where she scored 160 and 162 respectively.
With the years to come and the rivalries to be witnessed, more such records are awaited to be celebrated and set the standard higher.