With a target of 257 runs to win in the one-off Women’s Ashes Test, England reached 245 runs losing 9 wickets and the Test match ended as a draw. A draw might sound dull and boring but in reality the scenario was absolutely different.
Any outcome would have been possible in the Test match as the hosts needed one wicket to secure a thrilling victory. On the other hand, England appeared to be excitingly close to clinch a memorable victory as they needed 13 runs to win with only two overs left in the match. Eventually, the English team managed to score the highest fourth-innings score in the history of women’s Test cricket but that was not enough to emerge as the winners of the thrilling Ashes Test.
Australia second innings
Earlier, Aussies suffered two early dismissals, but the hosts were quick to regain the control of the match in the second innings as Ellyse Perry scored 41 runs off 83 balls to avert the early danger caused by English pacer Katherine Brunt. Perry was supported well by Beth Mooney (63 runs off 137 balls). Their solid partnership of 91 runs off 173 balls put the English team under some pressure.
Eventually the partnership was broken after Sophie Ecclestone sent Perry back to the dressing room in the 34th over of the second innings. Later, Tahila McGrath (34 runs off 67 balls) and Ashleigh Gardner (38 runs off 38 balls) provided good batting to set a target of 257 runs as Australia skipper decided to declare their innings before tea at 216/7 with 48 overs still to be bowled in the match.
For England, their 36-year-old pacer, Brunt scalped three wickets as Charlie Dean picked up two wickets.
A good start in second innings
England batters started their batting in the second innings on a convincing note. Skipper Heather Knight played a solid knock of 48 runs off 54 balls and Nat Sciver scored a terrific half century (58 runs off 62 balls) as the visitors looked set to clinch a brilliant victory.
But a batting collapse saw, England team lose six wickets within a span of just 26 runs. There was at a point when the England team needed 13 runs to win off 15 balls with three wickets in hand but the visitors could not reach the target as they ended the second innings with 245 runs on the board.
England's Anya Shrubsole was run out as she wanted to take single. On the very next delivery Dean was dismissed as her mistimed sweep shot was caught by Healy. Eventually Ecclestone and Kate Cross remained not out to thwart the Australian team from securing the victory.
For Australia, their medium pacer Annabel Sutherland picked up three wickets but ultimately that was not enough as the Test match ended as a draw.
