England’s groundwork was not up to the mark in the morning session on Day 4 at Trent Bridge. Kate Cross dropped a catch in Australia’s second innings to reprieve Phoebe Litchfield while Nat Sciver-Brunt could have claimed Beth Mooney first ball of her spell had she grasped the return catch.
Sophie Ecclestone cleaned up Mooney on 85 whereas Cross made up for the missed opportunity by castling Litchfield with a length delivery outside off that angled in to clip the top of off. Lauren Filer was then introduced into the attack and she changed the complexion of the game by nipping out Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath, with both of them losing their stumps.
Earlier, the hosts had put up a firm riposte to Australia’s first-innings total of 473. Tammy Beaumont became the eighth double centurion in women’s Test cricket while earning the distinction of being the only Englishwoman to reach the milestone.
LUNCH! 🍽️
Australia are 157-3! They lead by 167! 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/8fTjR0tu5H
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 25, 2023
