Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner continued her dominance on Day 5 to guide her side to an 89-run win at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Gardner created history as she became first Australian to take an eight-wicket haul in women’s Tests. It also ended Australia’s long wait of eight years for a Test win. Australia's last Test win came against England in 2015.
The convincing win has left hosts England a mountain to climb in the multi-format women’s Ashes. If England are to retrieve the turn for the first time since 2015 they will have to win five of the six matches (three ODIs and three T20I series).
Gardner dominates proceedings
England returned to field with 116/5 on the board with debutant Danielle Wyatt and Kate Cross in the middle. It turned out to be a Gardner show all along. Cross was the first to fall as she edged one to wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy. Then wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones went down the track to hit the ball over extra cover but got stumped by Healy.
Wyatt led England's fightback and got to her maiden Test half-century on debut. But Wyatt kept running out of partners. After taking two fifers in the Test, Sophie Ecclestone was supporting Wyatt well and a partnership was building. Gardner continued to bowl from one end and trapped Ecclestone in front of the stumps. In her next over, on-debut Lauren Filer was deceived in the air and got bowled for a nine-ball duck as she played down the wrong line.
With nine wickets down, Wyatt was left with no option then to attack. She went for a pull shot and got out lbw as she missed the ball. England got all out for 178 from 49 overs in the run chase of 268. Wyatt scored 54 runs from 88 deliveries including five fours.
What happened from Day 1 to Day 4?
Earlier on Day 1, Healy won the toss and opted to bat first. Ellyse Perry missed her century by just one run. Tahlia McGrath scored a half-century whereas Annabel Sutherland stood out of the lot with an unbeaten 137 to guide Australia to 473. England opener Tammy Beaumont gave a fine reply as she scored a double century. She was well-supported by Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt's half-centuries followed by Wyatt's 44-run knock to help England post 463. In Australia's second innings, Beth Mooney and Healy's half-centuries helped Australia post 257 on the board. Ecclestone bagged another fifer in the innings to enter history books.
England’s next task
The limited-overs series will begin on July 1. After three T20Is, the ODI series will be played from July 12 to July 18.
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