Annabel Sutherland

Sutherland stars for Australia as England rue multitude of missed chances on day 2

Annabel Sutherland’s masterful 163 thrust Australia ahead on day 2 of the Women’s Ashes Test, but England missed no less than seven opportunities in the field to let it slip.

Beth Mooney was stranded on 98* alongside Tahlia McGrath (9*) at the end of the day. The wicketkeeper added 150 with Sutherland, who made her third Test ton.

The visitors’ fielding was the biggest let-down of the day, however. Batters were let off the hook throughout and misfields routinely added to the total.

Australia maintain command at the MCG

Australia resumed the day on 56-1. They trailed by 114, but it seemed inevitable that they would take the lead sooner rather than later. Phoebe Litchfield cautiously played out a maiden from Sophie Ecclestone for the opening over.

It was an afternoon of slow progress for both sides. England looked to contain, while Australia were watchful. Annabel Sutherland ticked along nicely in the first session, making it to tea on 71*. She played within herself, barring a few expansive drives when offered length.

She was first partnered by Litchfield, who was similarly reticent, before Lauren Bell nicked her off. Then came Allysa Healy, who played with a little more freedom. This also seemed to release Sutherland, with the all-rounder upping the ante as the day dragged on.

Throughout the first session, England were offered opportunities but, as had been the case during the whole series, failed to take them.

Early on, Litchfield looked to go down the ground, only evading Dunkley by a few feet at long on before Sutherland sliced aerially to point. Danni Wyatt-Hodge got a full grasp on the ball but failed to keep control as her elbows hit the floor. This was followed with a thick edge that cannoned into Amy Jones’ knee behind the stumps.

Australia cantered to tea, 154-2, only 16 behind the visitors. After the break, Sutherland continued churning out runs, edging closer to her third Test ton.

Healy fell after the interval for 34, in slightly controversial fashion. Planting on the front foot, she was struck on the pad, given. Healy was adamant she had hit it first so sent the decision upstairs. However, ultra-edge was inconclusive. Healy had to go.

Sloppy fielding has been the bane of England’s tour

England’s fielding continued to let them down throughout the day. Ecclestone and Maia Bouchier both dropped Mooney. The left-armer got both hands to it, diving to her left, but it slipped through her grasp, while Bouchier put down a simple catch at gully just a few overs later. These were followed by more misfields from Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Lauren Filer and Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Sutherland cracked on, not perturbed by England’s comedy of errors, and raced to her hundred. The milestone came off 193 balls, with 14 fours and one maximum. This adds to her already superb Test record and is her third ton in the longest format. She is yet to pass fifty and not convert.

With the focus on the all-rounder, Beth Mooney did what she does best – score runs. She ticked along with ease. Racing to fifty, she made her fourth half-century of the series. Sutherland’s 150 soon followed.

England took the new ball as soon as possible and that might have accelerated the end of the Test. The Aussies scored 67 from the first nine overs with the new pink ball. The seamers managed to extract some movement from it. However, the hardness meant the ball raced faster off the bat to the fence.

Even in the 90th over, Filer found Sutherland’s edge twice but she was swinging with enough power that they flew over the slip cordon for back-to-back boundaries.

However, this was the catalyst for the breakthrough. A lack of footwork, after a testing over from Filer, caused the downfall of Sutherland. She looked to drive again off MacDonald-Gay but the ball nipped back beautifully and clattered into off-stump.

She made a fantastic 163 in the end. Her final fifty runs came at a run-a-ball and included six boundaries.

Australia set cruise control for the final two hours

The final 30 overs of the day were simple running for the hosts. Mooney and Garder scored without any risk and England failed to trouble them. One waft from the off-spinner saw Ecclestone drop another at slip but otherwise, the two batted sensibly and without fault.

Gardner fell with twenty minutes left in the day. She looked to work Ecclestone into the leg side but top-edged it to square leg. Filer clung on (just), with help from her chin, but there was little to celebrate for England.

By the end of the day, they looked out of ideas. A mini bouncer barrage from Filer went without creating a chance before Knight bowled herself for the final over. The off-spin was there to tempt the big shot out of Mooney, who was nearing her century, but she resisted, finishing the day on 98*.

Australia claim a lead of 252 at stumps and eyes will soon turn to a declaration and victory tomorrow.

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India v England White ball series
IND v ENG 2nd ODI, Cuttack
9th February
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12th February
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