England skipper Heather Knight played a terrific knock of 168 runs (not out) off 294 balls to get her side back in the contest against Australia on the third day of the one-off women’s Ashes Test, played at the Manuka Oval, in Canberra on January 29 (Saturday).
A day that was interrupted by rain saw the hosts lose their two openers- Rachael Haynes (4 runs off 10 balls) and wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy (0 off 2 balls) in the second innings quickly and end the day’s play on 12 runs losing two wickets and with a lead of 52 runs.
Brunt claims two quick wickets
36-year-old England pacer Katherine Brunt proved to be lethal as she picked up two early wickets for the visitors. England’s right-arm fast bowler carried her stunning form in the Test match forward in the second innings as well. The Barnsley-born pacer exhibited her terrific bowling skills in the first innings after she dismissed five Aussie batters. Opener Haynes (86 runs off 180 balls) and Ashleigh Gardner (56 runs off 74 deliveries) were sent back to the dressing room by Brunt in the first innings. England’s medium pacer Nat Sciver gave Brunt a good support by claiming crucial three wickets in the first innings.
A solid partnership
Earlier, in the first innings, at one stage the English team were reeling at 169 runs losing 8 wickets. But a solid partnership of 100 runs off 199 balls between skipper Knight and Sophie Ecclestone helped them in coming out of the danger and reach a formidable total of 297 runs.
England’s 22-year-old, right-handed batsman- Ecclestone played a fine knock of 34 runs off 117 balls to give skipper Knight a commendable support. English skipper, Knight remained not out and pretty deservedly led her side from the front in the Test match.
For Australia, their all-rounder Ellyse Perry picked up three wickets and another bowler, Annabel Sutherland scalped two wickets for her side.
In the second innings, the hosts did not have a good start after they lost two of their openers within a total of just 12 runs. Beth Mooney (7 runs) and Ellyse Perry (0) are batting currently and would look to increase their team’s lead on the fourth day of the Test match.
