Women’s cricket fans would be delighted that this one-off Ashes Test is a five-day affair. The game is beautifully poised going into the final day, and though Australia seem to be in an advantageous position, one good partnership could change things very quickly. Australia started the penultimate day on 92 for no loss, and were bowled out for 257. England, needing 268 to win, had reached 116-5 wickets by stumps. Australia will begin the final day needing five wickets, while England need 152 more runs.
Sophie Ecclestone shines again
Ecclestone got another five-for in the second innings to prevent the Australians from setting a huge target. Ecclestone’s match figures were 10 for 192 in 77.1 overs. Jess Jonassen crumbled under scoreboard pressure, and played a slog to give her wicket away. Ecclestone then picked up Beth Mooney, who top scored with 85 and was looking all set for a big one. She also dismissed Annabel Sutherland, Australia’s centurion from the first innings. Ecclestone then picked up Alyssa Healy and Darcie Brown in the same over to end Australia’s innings at 257.
Lauren Filer’s impressive show
Filer, the debutant, has been pretty impressive. When it seemed like Australia were running away with the game, Filer got the wickets of Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath in the span of four balls to bring England right back into the game. Filer kept the Aussie batters under pressure as scoring became difficult against her pace and movement. She formed a beautiful bowling partnership with Ecclestone.
England’s poor catching costs them
England could have wrapped the Australian innings up quite early had they capitalised on all the chances that came their way. They missed as many as six chances, and let the Australians get up to 257. While it could be argued that Australia were 149-1 at one point before collapsing, the eventual target would have been even less had England held on to their chances.
Healy plays a captain’s knock
Healy demoted herself as she was staring at the prospect of a pair in this Test. She sent in Ashleigh Gardner to bat before her. Gardner was gone in a jiffy, and Healy had to come out with immense pressure on her shoulders. Australia had lost five wickets over a span of 47 runs and the match was tilting towards the home side. Healy took her time to get off the mark, but then she settled her nerves and started seeing the ball better, hitting it more sweetly as well. Healy’s half-century could well be the match-deciding, and Australia couldn’t have asked for a better time for her to rediscover form in Test cricket.
Gardner puts Australia in charge
England openers looked well and truly on their way to the highest successful run chase in Women’s Test history. Healy went to Gardner to provide her with a breakthrough, and she responded by picking up three key wickets. In her first over, she removed Tammy Beaumont, the in-form double-centurion from the first innings. Gardner bowled well outside off and Beaumont ended up giving an easy catch to Mooney at first slip. Nat Sciver-Brunt then threw her wicket away going for a half-hearted sweep. The top edge was safely caught by Kim Garth. Heather Knight started using attack as the best form of defence to counter the Gardner threat, but to no avail. Gardner bowled outside off and the bowl turned sharply in and stayed low. Knight hung back to counter the turn, but ended up missing it. With her may have gone English hopes.