One of the great days of Ashes cricket
449 runs. 14 wickets. What a day of Test cricket.
What to make of all that then? Incredible, no? Spare a thought for Geoff Lemon who is writing the match report as we speak and has to cram all that beautiful chaos into something intelligible. He wouldn’t have it any other way and neither would we.
That was a real pleasure to OBO, thanks for your company over the past five hours or so. Both sides will now somehow have to gather themselves for the ODIs which get underway on Thursday. We’ll be there for those of course.
I’m off for a lie down. Maybe I’ll just sneak a glimpse at the highlights first...
And sure enough here is Geoff’s report, a belter, just like the match.
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Well played Meg Lanning, Heather Knight and both teams. In just 10 sessions (not because of it), they've engineered an excellent, compelling Test. More of it, across five days. And also, crucially, time for multi-day domestic women's cricket. Let this be a springboard. #Ashes
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) January 30, 2022
This made me chuckle:
Wonder if there was a devil on the shoulder of Kate Cross saying: do it pic.twitter.com/P6mVxDmQhv
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) January 30, 2022
Have had a few messages intimating the same thing. Kate Cross did waft at a few in the penultimate over but she shut up shop admirably in the last. England now have to win all three ODI matches to snaffle the Ashes which is a big ask but there’s a chance. There wouldn’t be if Cross had got big ideas and hacked one up in the air or gone dancing down in search of glory... and missed one. England are on the ropes for sure, but there’s still an outside chance they could land a surprise knockout punch.
The greatest Test match that I have been luckily enough to be involved in. Thank you @englandcricket @ @AusWomenCricket for playing such an entertaining game. Now for 5 day Test please
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) January 30, 2022
Cricket eh. Bloody ‘ell. What to make of that final session? First of all, kudos to England for a valiant run chase, for a good while there they looked magnificent as they set about hauling down a record target. Australia then roared back and in the end they looked like they were going to snatch it back. A draw is a fair result but both sides might come to wonder how they each didn’t win that game.
One of the greatest of all time #ashes
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) January 30, 2022
Please forgive me if I act a little strange whilst I catch my breath. I’ll post some of the reaction to that pulsating finish.
What a finish that was. Absolutely great for test cricket 🏏 #Ashes
— Marnus Labuschagne (@marnus3cricket) January 30, 2022
And breathe.
England finished up on 245/9. The Ashes are still alive. Just.
An incredible Test match ends in a draw.#Ashes | #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/hTzVk7HPaa
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 30, 2022
A full toss from King... Cross pats it back. That’s it - England survive! Match drawn! What a game.
1 ball to go... can England cling on? All the fielders are in. This is epic.
5 balls to go. Fielders around the bat. Lanning commanding her troops. Cross wide eyed. Loops one up. Cross blocks. And repeat. 3 to go.
Dot ball. Cross blocks the first.
47th over: England 244-9 (Ecclestone 0, Cross 1) Pheeewf! Cross plays and misses a couple of times, the ball a gnats eyebrow from the edge. Six balls to go. Alana King will bowl it. 1 wicket needed. Here we go...
46th over: England 244-9 (Ecclestone 0, Cross 0) We’ve got 12 balls left. Can England cling on now? Can Australia find this final wicket? Can I still type and breathe?!
WICKET!
Dean ct Healy b King 3 Another one! Australia are on the verge here! Just one more wicket needed. England need 13 runs off 12 balls. Kate Cross is the last batter. Incredible.
WICKET!
Shrubsole Run Out by Alana King for 6. England
Australia need 2 wickets. England need 13 runs.
45th over: England 240-7 (Dean 2 , Shrubsole 3) Charlie Dean the debutant is the new batter. What a situation for her to arrive at the crease. A stolen single. Shrubsole then straight drives down the ground but it is just a single. Great nerve shown by Sutherland.
England need 17 runs from 18 balls. Australia need 3 wickets.
WICKET!
Brunt ct Healy b Sutherland 6 (England 236-7)
44th over: England 236-6 (Brunt 4, Shrubsole 1 ) Very nearly a run out but Brunt just scrabbles into her ground and is home by a inch of willow.
England need 21 runs off 24 balls! This is compelling cricket.
WICKET!
Dunkley ct Mooney b King 45 (England 233-6)
Caught in the deep, another catch by Mooney, this one even better, diving forward and scooping the ball off the turf. A great catch. Dunkley has played a fine knock and given England more than just hope. Anya Shrubsole is the new batter.
43rd over: England 222-4 (Dunkley 45, Brunt 1) Dunkley sees Jones perish and Brunt arrive at the crease but she goes about her business undimmed. A four flayed away through the off side follows a couple of runs snatched to mid-wicket. Jones’s wicket and seven runs off the over. Brunt will be on strike for the next. England need 25 from 30 balls.
WICKET!
Jones ct Mooney b Sutherland 4 (England 224-5)
Jones caught in the deep!
Seldom have I enjoyed a session more than the last couple of hours of the Aus v Eng Women's Test in Canberra.
— Scyld Berry (@scyldberry) January 30, 2022
We hear ya Scyld:
42nd over: England 222-4 (Dunkley 38, Jones 4) Missed stumping! Jones topples as the ball heads down the leg side but Healy can’t gather. Breathe. Five runs off the over. England need 33 runs from 36 balls!
41st over: England 219-4 (Dunkley 37, Jones 0)
England need 38 runs to win. Australia need 6 wickets.
WICKET!
Sciver ct Lanning b Sutherland 58 England (218-4)
Nat Sciver is out! Caught at square leg, another pull shot but this time it is straight to the fielder and Lanning takes a sharp catch in front of her eyes. A twist! A twist I tell ye!
40th over: England 214-3 (Dunkley 37, Sciver 54) Just one off the next over, we had a REVIEW half way through, Sciver hit on the pad by King and the Aussies go up vociferously but the umpire doesn’t give it and sure enough it is missing the stumps comfortably. Where is this game going next?
39th over: England 212-3 (Dunkley 37, Sciver 53) Just one off Sutherland’s over as she reverts to some short stuff. Dunkley swinging away merrily but failing to connect. A breather of sorts.
Kim Thonger returns:
“This is beginning to feel like a Headingley 1981 moment... I don’t know whether to put the kettle on or chill a bottle of champagne. Eek.”
Get that champers in the kettle and boil it up Kim! That’s my serving suggestion.
38th over: England 212-3 (Dunkley 37, Sciver 52) Eight runs off the over and the target is now below 50. Dunkley pulls one away and bi-sects (?) the fielders perfectly. The field is scattered like crows on a phone line. I don’t know if that imagery really works but forgive me, Australia are on the end of an ambushing here.
11 overs to go.
53 runs needed.
37th over: England 204-3 (Dunkley 31, Sciver 50) SOPHIA DUNKLEY HAS JUST SMASHED BACK TO BACK SIXES! Oh my life. Sutherland just stands and watches as the ball sails well clear of the boundary on each occasion. A massive 16 runs off the over. Lanning turns to Alana King for the next over. Strap yourselves in...
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FIFTY FOR NAT SCIVER!
Well played, a punchy and brave knock from one of England’s finest. ClapClapClapClapClapClap
36th over: England 188-3 (Dunkley 18, Sciver 47) Sophia Dunkley! Maybe that early scare has given her a clarity of thought but safe to say she is nailing this, a four smashed down the ground straight and then another hooked away square. My fingers are sweaty?
35th over: England 179-3 (Dunkley 10, Sciver 46) The field is spread, despite that last over the Aussie’ are still rattled. There’s 11 runs off this one. Dunkley biffing one down the ground that bounces awkwardly and past the fielder.
Martin Knight parps up:
“Jim, awake early after maybe just a tad too much wine last night, and boy wasn’t that third bottle glass worth it if this is the consequence… Cycled home last night to the sounds of England winning a T20 in style, and now woken up to this. Can’t we just make Mo Captain of Everything and Heather Knight Commander in Chief of the ECB and get on with it?
34th over: England 168-3 (Dunkley 1, Sciver 44) Cripes! DUNKLEY IS GIVEN OUT FIRST BALL, LBW TO BROWN... but there’s another review. This looks dead too - but NO! NOT OUT. Somehow sneaking over! Pheeeewf. Game on here. Brown looks very dangerous all of a sudden.
WICKET!
Knight lbw b Brown 48 (England 166-3)
England’s captain is out for the first time in the match! She reviews but the ball is straight and smashing into the stumps. Knight knew it really, it was a weary T-sign. Darcie Brown has the breakthrough.
33rd over: England 166-2 (Knight 48, Sciver 43) Seven off the over as Sciver smashes another boundary. Phil Walker texts to say he’s rushing home, Lord only knows where that scamp has been, he’s got adagio for strings blaring in the cab. Feels about right.
32nd over: England 158-2 (Knight 46, Sciver 37) THIS IS NOT A DRILL. The target is less than 100. Another pulled boundary for Sciver. I kid you not, a bell is tolling in Canberra.
1 hour to go
England need 104 more runs to win. Gulp. Here we go.
Adrian Armstrong is enjoying this:
“This is a delight - and a welcome reminder that there’s more to life than a timely tax return. One thing worth bearing in mind for the future: we’re being quietly thrilled despite, not because of, the four-day format. The last thing players or spectators want is administrators latching onto this match, whatever the outcome, as proof that women’s Test cricket ain’t broke. And with that, I return to tea, cheese, crackers, and a big daft smile.”
Crackin’.
31st over: England 153-2 (Knight 46, Sciver 32) Six off Jonassen’s latest. Australia look a bit toothless and clueless here. Lanning looks shell-shocked. Drinks are called and that means we are down to the last hour of this game.
30th over: England 137-2 (Knight 41, Sciver 30) Big over for England! Ten runs from it. Sciver unleashes another meaty pull from the first ball. Next ball she squirts one off the under edge down to fine leg for four more. That’s the fifty partnership between these Knight and Sciver. They have both been fantastic. We’re nearly into the last hour. Join us. Join us.
29th over: England 137-2 (Knight 41, Sciver 21) Four singles from Jonassen’s over, be under no illusion - THIS IS ON.
28th over: England 133-2 (Knight 39, Sciver 19) We are firmly into one-day mode here at the end of this Test match, scampered singles, deft little dabs and crunching boundaries. Three singles off the over and Jonassen is coming back into the attack.
Lanning has previously been criticised for having no Plan B when things don’t go Australia’s way.
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) January 30, 2022
This is a real test for her. Plan A has not worked, what is Plan B? Plan C? #Ashes
27th over: England 130-2 (Knight 37, Sciver 18) England have been going at a run a ball for the last ten overs! Great shot! Knight plays the reverse sweep off King and gets four. That’s 200 runs in the match for Knight, for no dismissals, yet.
*Whisper it *
England are surely now the only team that can win this game.
26th over: England 122-2 (Knight 30, Sciver 17) Knight gets a thick edge through the vacant slip region for another boundary. Another groan is audible. Safe to say it is antipodean.
25th over: England 116-2 (Knight 25, Sciver 16) Another six from the over. Another boundary to Sciver. Another reminder that if England haul this target down it will be the highest chase in women’s Test cricket.
24th over: England 110-2 (Knight 24, Sciver 11) England get six off Perry’s latest, Sciver is looking in good nick, crunching a drive through the covers.
At the 24 over mark, England have attacked 52.7% of their deliveries faced. Of the 21 Test innings in which shot type data has been collected, this is the most aggressive on record and the fastest scoring up to this point (RR 4.58) #Ashes @IGcom pic.twitter.com/uvWz9tzFF5
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 30, 2022
23rd over: England 104-2 (Knight 23, Sciver 6) Three runs and a bonus no-ball off the over as an email ploops in from Kim Thonger:
“Good morning James, may I say what a pleasure it is to watch an England batting unit go about their business confidently and competently? After a year of grimacing at the men’s team collapsing like ice cubes in a blast furnace, this is genuinely enjoyable, proper cricket.”
That it is Kim, That it is.
22nd over: England 100-2 (Knight 21, Sciver 5 ) 100 up for England, notched up in style by the new batter, Nat Sciver, who pounces on a short one and swivel-pulls it away to the rope. England seem undeterred. We’re going to have some spin from the be-shaded Alana King.
WICKET!
Winfield-Hill ct Haynes b Perry 33 (England 94-2)
Gah! Fun while it lasted, Haynes again with a sharp grab at short mid-wicket.
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21st over: England 93-1 (Knight 20, Winfield-Hill 33) What was in Winfield-Hill’s beverage?! She clouts McGrath for four first ball, rocking back and pulling her powerfully to the fence. And another one! This pull shot even more emphatic than the last. I swear I heard an Australian fielder groan as the ball whistled away to the boundary. At what stage will they start to get a tad twitchy?
20th over: England 83-1 (Knight 20, Winfield-Hill 23) Gardner to whirl away after drinks. Heather Knight looked to be a little ginger during the drinks break, perhaps a back twinge? She doesn’t look overly concerned though. She’s been on the field for all but an hour of this match. Great effort. Three from the over.
19th over: England 80-1 (Knight 19, Winfield-Hill 21) Busy again from England, sun out, the outfield is fast and life feels full of hope... the Aussies look a little flat, but that could all change very quickly. They’ll have a chance to gather themselves as it is drinks.
18th over: England 75-1 (Knight 17, Winfield-Hill 20) Five more off the over including a slog-swept boundary from Knight who is lighting up the crease at the moment. It is 4:47am. London is dark, cold and quiet. But I for one am AWAKE.
17th over: England 70-1 (Knight 12, Winfield-Hill 20) Ten runs off the over! This is great to see, England are definitely trying to give themselves a sniff here. Knight gets two boundaries away off McGrath. She is different class.
16th over: England 60-1 (Knight 3, Winfield-Hill 20) Another boundary and a couple, I reckon England fancy this y’know.
15th over: England 54-1 (Knight 2, Winfield-Hill 15) Knight strides to the crease, fresh off that incredible knock in the first dig. She’s away straight away with a couple flicked through mid-wicket off a full bunger. Beaumont played positively and will be slightly annoyed at the way she perished, it was there to hit but just leaning back on the stroke resulted in the ball going aerial and it was a fine grab by Haynes as it was travelling.
WICKET! Beaumont ct Haynes b McGrath 36 (England 52 -1)
Sharp grab by Haynes in the covers! Firm but uppish drive from Beaumont and she has to go. Australia have their first.
14th over: England 52-0 (Beaumont 36, Winfield-Hill 15) Half volley served up by Sutherland that is smeared through the covers by Winfield-Hill. That’s a fifty partnership between these two. Batted.
13th over: England 48-0 (Beaumont 36, Winfield-Hill 11) Not quiet for long though as Beaumont skips down to the first ball of the next over and whips it through the leg side for another boundary. Jonassen then drags down with the last ball of the over and it is duly dispatched for another four. Good stuff this from England, minimal risk, just putting the bad ball away and reverting some pressure back onto the Aussie bowlers.
12th over: England 40-0 (Beaumont 28, Winfield-Hill 11) Just a couple off it, things have quietened down a tad.
11th over: England 38-0 (Beaumont 28, Winfield-Hill 9) Just a single off Jonassen’s over.
Cute 🥰#Ashes pic.twitter.com/WlAMXUXzoy
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 30, 2022
10th over: England 37-0 (Beaumont 28, Winfield-Hill 8) A further 6 off the over, including a boundary through point for Beaumont.
9th over: England 31-0 (Beaumont 22, Winfield-Hill 8) Winfield-Hill gets in on the act now too! Back foot crunch for four off Jonassen - who keeps it tight thereafter.
The floodlights at the Manuka Oval resemble giant spatulas. That’s all I’ve got on that one… though it is still a bit cloudy in Canberra so maybe the spatulas/lights could come into play as this game goes deep.
8th over: England 27-0 (Beaumont 22, Winfield-Hill 4) Beaumont really has the bit between her teeth here, she drives Sutherland imperiously for four, her fourth boundary and she’s on 22 from 26 deliveries. Are England going to try and haul this down?
7th over: England 23-0 (Beaumont 18, Winfield-Hill 4) A maiden to Ash Gardner to start us off after tea.
Like 2019, after rain, Australia bat a Test to death instead of taking the best chance to win it. The supposed best team in the world don't seem to have much faith in the idea. #Ashes
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) January 30, 2022
Geoff ain’t ‘appy:
The players are on their way back out.
Finbar Anslow has been in touch.
“Good morning James, (G’morning Finbar)
4.53 here in Northern Italy. Game looks pretty nicely poised, must confess I’m a complete newcomer to the woman’s game. As a West Countryman who should I be looking out for on the England side?”
Good to have you aboard, I reckon send the whole team your good vibes down from Northern Italy, they might need it either way in this final session!
Who’s up and dialled into this game? Let me know you’re out there where you think this Test is headed - on the email and the twitters
Shout out to Hypocaust, Lord of the stats. And also to the ever brilliant Izzy Westbury who is bringing all her charm, insight and knowledge to the TV coverage. Fist bumps all round.
It's not like they've played defensively through this Test. The run rate could well make this the fastest scoring T in history... https://t.co/ECjb0CKwmJ
— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) January 30, 2022
6th over: England 23-0 (Beaumont 18, Winfield-Hill 4) Jess Jonassen’s left arm tweakers for the last over before the break. Yikes - Beaumont tries to ramp her first ball but misses it... next ball she is almost pinned lbw to one that skids on. Saved by the inside edge. Then a short one is clubbed away for four to mid-wicket. It is not dull. That’s tea.
5th over: England 17-0 (Beaumont 12, Winfield-Hill 4) A tickle off the legs from Beaumont brings a boundary down to fine leg. She’s looking busy at the crease and scampers another single off the last ball. We’ll have one more over before the tea interval.
4th over: England 12-0 (Beaumont 7, Winfield-Hill 4)
Notionally, for England to chase this down, you'd be looking at a day's Test cricket featuring 461 runs. The pitch is offering spin and variable bounce, the ball is swinging. You're looking at a starting point above 5rpo against a red ball and a world-class bowling attack.
— Nick Friend (@NickFriend1) January 30, 2022
Guess England were basically waiting for the declaration to finally get rid of the banana peel left behind by Kate Cross at the start of the day. To the peel’s credit, it looked to have hardly deteriorated despite the five-hour long of exposure to the elements #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ollMKzi80g
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 30, 2022
Banana watch:
3rd over: England 11-0 (Beaumont 6, Winfield-Hill 4) Beaumont is looking very positive, she whips a full ball from Perry off her toes to the mid-wicket boundary. Delightful timing. She then forces through the covers, for a safer single this time. 45 Overs remaining. England need 5.47 runs required per over. Australia still need the ten wickets.
2nd over: England 5-0 (Beaumont 1, Winfield-Hill 4) Sheeeeeesh -Beaumont scrambles a quick single to Perry at mid-off and I reckon a direct hit and she was a goner there! England showing intent. Yeh let’s go with intent. Just the one, that one, off it.
1st over: England 4-0 (Beaumont 0, Winfield-Hill 4) England are away, cruising this run chase already. Winfield-Hill drives confidently on the front foot to bookend the over.
The players are back out there, Ellyse Perry has the new ball in hand and Beaumont and Winfield-Hill are opening up for England. Let’s play!
Tag yourself.
— Caitlin (@CaitoGrace) January 29, 2022
I’m Beth Mooney’s shirt. #Ashes #AUSvENG
Jess Jonassen came out and played a few scything shots at the end there, three boundaries in quick succession before the declaration came. Time for a quick cup of java before we get down to the business end of this match. Let me know if you are tuning in.
AUSTRALIA DECLARE on 216 for 7.
Lanning waves them in. England need 257 runs and Australia ten wickets. There are 48 overs left in the day. Where’s your money?
WICKET! McGrath b Dean 34 (Australia 199-6)
Definitely a message as McGrath skips down and deposits Dean off the first ball of the next over. An imposing strike. But very next ball she is BOWLED BY DEAN, through the gate with a bit of turn, good comeback and well bowled by the debutant. Will that be the declaration? Nope - out comes Jess Jonassen
62nd over: Australia 195-6 (McGrath 30, Sutherland 4) 3 off the over and still we go on. A pair of gloves and no doubt a message is sent out to the middle
61st over: Australia 192-6 (McGrath 28, Sutherland 3) Maiden from Sciver as the camera hones in on Meg Lanning whispering behind her hand...
Thanks Geoff and hello OBO,
The Ashes are on the line then and could be decided in the next few hours. England need to get something from this game, a draw just about keeps them in the hunt but will then require them snatching all three ODIs - a daunting and unlikely prospect against this Australian side, dominant as they are in the format.
So will England go for broke and try and steal this game, pulling off a record-breaking run chase in the process? Or will Australia bowl them out and take the spoils? I reckon it’s going to get twitchy later on, which could be fun. Or not.
Jim here in London, keep me company through the graveyard hours with your thoughts, theories and whimsy. I’m on the email and the twitters
60th over: Australia 192-6 (McGrath 26, Sutherland 3) Ecclestone to McGrath, a couple more runs, a lead of 232, and there are 54 overs remaining.
I’m out of here, James Wallace coming in.
59th over: Australia 190-6 (McGrath 26, Sutherland 3) McGrath lays into a pull shot now, taking four from Sciver. Sutherland tries the same and edges it down towards Ecclestone, but the fielder can only dive and stop it, rather than get close enough to attempt a catch.
58th over: Australia 178-6 (McGrath 21, Sutherland 0) Lovely shot by McGrath from Ecclestone, driven off the pads through midwicket for four. Two close catchers and a short cover in place.
57th over: Australia 178-6 (McGrath 17) Wicket falls from the last ball of the over.
WICKET! Gardner c Ecclestone b Sciver 38, Australia 178-6
Change of bowling, a short ball, Gardner hooks it because Gardner will, and the top edge goes down to long leg for a catch. The Australians are sending in Sutherland next, and it looks like King is padding up now. The batting will roll on.
56th over: Australia 175-5 (McGrath 16, Gardner 36) This is become a dirge. McGrath soaks up an over, scores a single, and has 16 off 43 balls. The great ball-striker of the T20s is doing this. It’s just pointless by now. England can’t chase this if Australia need to stop the runs, so why not put them in and take the best chance at bowling them out?
55th over: Australia 174-5 (McGrath 15, Gardner 36) McGrath lays into three shots against Cross in that over, and gets one run. Dunkley stops one at cover, half stops the other, and Ecclestone stops one at mid on. Gardner drives three down to long on, where Shrubsole has to chase back and stop the four. Can’t stop the next attempt after rotating strike though, with Gardner clubbing it over Shrubsole’s head for a one-bounce four.
The lead is 214. There are probably 59 overs to go if we assume we’ll get 17 in the last hour.
54th over: Australia 165-5 (McGrath 13, Gardner 29) Four catchers around the bat for Gardner facing Ecclestone. Cuffs a cut shot away for two runs regardless.
53rd over: Australia 161-5 (McGrath 12, Gardner 26) Cross tries again, getting slapped over deep point for what could have been a catch but it lands safely. Anya Shrubsole puts an arm around Cross’ shoulders after the over. “Shrubsoling her,” says my colleague Bharat Sundaresan.
52nd over: Australia 157-5 (McGrath 11, Gardner 23) There’s the Gardner cut shot again, powerfully timed behind point for four more. They have two fielders for the shot but Gardner splits them off Ecclestone. Then she goes back and pulls two.
The lead is 197. Lanning is still in her training kit instead of her whites with 51 overs left. Looks like the Australians will go the boring safety-first route again, as Lanning did in 2019.
51st over: Australia 151-5 (McGrath 11, Gardner 17) Kate Cross to replace Brunt, another mighty McGrath drive is well saved at cover by Dunkley diving across. McGrath blocks out the rest. This isn’t declaration batting, it’s just Gardner batting like Gardner.
50th over: Australia 151-5 (McGrath 11, Gardner 17) Nearly chips up to cover, does Gardner, before leaning back and lacing a late cut for four. Finishes off the over with a more forceful cut square for the same result. The lead is 191.
49th over: Australia 143-5 (McGrath 9, Gardner 9) Brunt nearly gets McGrath chipping a catch back, having to step away to dig out a yorker. McGrath is cutting well whenever the length affords it though, finding ones and twos.
48th over: Australia 139-5 (McGrath 8, Gardner 8) Nicely driven through cover again by Gardner, two runs. We’ll have 65 overs left after this one, with two lost for the changeover, so if Australia want to declare it will need to come soon. Lanning is usually a conservative captain though. Gardner chips two more over cover. The lead is 179.
47th over: Australia 135-5 (McGrath 8, Gardner 4) McGrath reaches for width from Brunt and clips on the bounce to gully. Dicey shot. Leaves alone the next wide one. Brunt responds with a perfume ball that wafts past McGrath’s face.
46th over: Australia 135-5 (McGrath 8, Gardner 4) Ecclestone to partner Brunt. Has McGrath stabbing away on the bounce to second slip, then away just past short leg. Gets off strike though, and Gardner pings four through cover. Very attacking field.
45th over: Australia 130-5 (McGrath 7, Gardner 0) Big appeal from Brunt last ball of the over, hits Gardner on the pad but going down leg. Eloise Sheridan has had a very good Test match umpiring.
WICKET! Lanning c Knight b Brunt 12, Australia 130-5
Double spin is over, Brunt is back. And strikes straight away! Standard delivery outside off stump but Lanning pushes at it, half-hearted kind of shot, and provides the edge for Heather Knight. The lead is 170.
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44th over: Australia 130-4 (Lanning 12, McGrath 7) Ecclestone from the Manuka Pool end. McGrath picks up where she left off in the first innings, bashing a cover drive for four.
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43rd over: Australia 126-4 (Lanning 12, McGrath 3) Here is Charlie Dean to finish the over that she started before lunch. Having taken her first Test wicket.
I don’t know if it was superstition or taking in the moment, but she spent the entire lunch break sitting in the dugout by the boundary on her own, rather than going into the rooms to eat.
Her first ball back, it’s off the outside edge of McGrath and just past silly mid-off. McGrath gets going with two runs through square leg, then a single to cover.
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Lunch is coming to an end. Here we go.
Lunch - Australia 123 for 4, leading by 163
42.2 overs bowled, with Dean interrupted as lunch is taken with the fall of the wicket.
That was Australia’s session, despite the wickets towards the end. They added 111 runs in the extended 2.5 hours. There should be about 71 overs left in the day, and they already have a healthy lead. Bat for another hour, slog a few, and they probably can’t lose this match. But England still have a thread of hope. Must take more wickets quickly after the break.
News in from Sydney, too, where our sport editor’s son, Finn Hytner, has just made 71 not out and taken three wickets in the Under-12 Sunday Sixers league. Top work.
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WICKET! Mooney lbw Dean 63, Australia 123 for 4
That’s Eccle-stone dead. Hits Mooney right on the toe in front of middle, which means ball-tracking has to assume it’s going straight on. Mooney started to walk but Lanning called her to review. The result goes as expected.
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42nd over: Australia 122-3 (Mooney 63, Lanning 11) Two slips in for Ecclestone bowling the left-hander now, which is curious. Mooney responds with an off-drive for four.
41st over: Australia 118-3 (Mooney 59, Lanning 11) Lanning mostly defending now against Dean, aside from clipping away a brace through square.
40th over: Australia 116-3 (Mooney 59, Lanning 9) More appeals, as Beaumont snares a rebound at short leg, but there was no bat from Mooney.
39th over: Australia 113-3 (Mooney 57, Lanning 8) The Australian captain working runs from Dean with ease, either side of the wicket. The lead is 153.
38th over: Australia 108-3 (Mooney 56, Lanning 4) Ecclestone with another one-run over.
37th over: Australia 107-3 (Mooney 56, Lanning 3) Australia just happy to bat, not looking to put the foot down. One run from Dean’s over as the lead climbs towards one fifty.
36th over: Australia 106-3 (Mooney 56, Lanning 2) Ecclestone continues, Lanning off the mark by flicking square. Then gets strike back and produces a nice square drive to the deep sweeper.
35th over: Australia 103-3 (Mooney 55, Lanning 0) Charlie Dean bowls a maiden over to Mooney, who is blocking everything.
Updated
34th over: Australia 103-3 (Mooney 55, Lanning 0) Ecclestone finishes her over with a couple of hand grenades to Meg Lanning, or so it seems. Very watchful. Australia lead by 143. You’d think England have left their run too late.
Updated
WICKET! Perry lbw Ecclestone 41, Australia 103-3
Finally they get one. Hits Perry low as she stretches forward, and in front. She talks to Mooney and then walks off. But she was a long way forward! And they have three reviews in hand. Why wouldn’t you check that one? Anyway, she’s given herself out.
33rd over: Australia 103-2 (Perry 41, Mooney 55) Charlie Dean on for a bowl, tossing it up and drawing Mooney into a drive to deep cover for two.
32nd over: Australia 101-2 (Perry 41, Mooney 53) Down on one knee goes Mooney, miscuing a sweep from Ecclestone for a single. Perry defends the rest. England appeal for a couple of pad strikes, no love.
31st over: Australia 100-2 (Perry 41, Mooney 52) Kate is certainly cross right now. Chances spurned. She bowls a floaty full one that Perry dismisses through cover. Australia’s three figures come up.
Half century! Mooney 50 from 96 balls
30th over: Australia 95-2 (Perry 37, Mooney 51) England lose another review after Perry stretches forward in defence and comes close to edging a ball behind. But doesn’t. We had a check for a stumping as well. Perry survives. More runs come. Mooney edges a couple away to raise her 50. The lead is 132. Mooney pulls away another run.
29th over: Australia 91-2 (Perry 36, Mooney 48) Still three slips and a point for Perry, the gully has been taken out. Bowls outside off and now Perry is dropped! Ohhhhh my. Amy Jones again. Perry goes hard at it, thick edge going towards first slip. Jones the keeper has every right to go for the catch but her footwork looks slow, she has to dive, and she gets one glove to it without taking it in. All the drops in the first innings, now these ones: in short, England have not been good enough to win.
28th over: Australia 86-2 (Perry 31, Mooney 48) Ecclestone gets an appeal sent upstairs as Mooney comes forward with bat and pad together and is hit in line. Umpire Graham-Smith says not out and the soundwave tech suggests there might have been a tiny inside edge. Could also have been the bat hitting ground or boot or something. I don’t know whether it would have hit the stumps because we didn’t see the ball-tracking afterwards.
27th over: Australia 86-2 (Perry 31, Mooney 48) Cross has to find the calm to continue. Hit Mooney on the pad but there’s some edge involved. Finding a better length to Perry as well.
26th over: Australia 83-2 (Perry 31, Mooney 45) Ecclestone continuing, and they collect a couple of singles.
Updated
25th over: Australia 81-2 (Perry 30, Mooney 44) Cross in to Mooney after drinks, and she’s dropped by Jones! Straightforward chance for the keeper, one sidestep, normal height, and it hits her wrist and flies away for four runs. That is an awful miss. Mooney was on 40.
Updated
24th over: Australia 76-2 (Perry 29, Mooney 40) A couple of false shots against Ecclestone, Mooney top-edging the cut and then top-edging the pull, but lots of gaps and it all ends well for the batter. Drinks.
23rd over: Australia 70-2 (Perry 28, Mooney 35) Perry has been quiet for a while, but comes back to life with a perfect straight drive for four. Just past the non-striker’s stumps and down the ground from Cross. The partnership goes up to 58 with a couple of singles thrown in as well.
22nd over: Australia 64-2 (Perry 23, Mooney 34) The left-hander is happier to play shots against the spinner, tugging into the leg side for two on a couple of occasions.
21st over: Australia 60-2 (Perry 23, Mooney 30) Kate Cross on to replace Sciver. Mooney isn’t shy about playing shots to Cross, but keeps finding the field until a single off the last ball.
20th over: Australia 59-2 (Perry 23, Mooney 29) No run from Ecclestone’s over, as Perry is happy to wait it out. They’re being very cautious against England’s premier spinner.
19th over: Australia 59-2 (Perry 23, Mooney 29) A few really nice shots from Mooney today, and that’s the best of them as she steps into a cover drive for four. Add that to a brace through square leg. Sciver can’t put the brakes on.
Updated
18th over: Australia 53-2 (Perry 23, Mooney 23) Ecclestone to Mooney, another over with only a single as Mooney is largely happy to defend. Brunt has been off the field for a few overs but comes back on now. Danni Wyatt was the sub.
17th over: Australia 52-2 (Perry 23, Mooney 22) Sciver to Perry, who clips two more runs off her legs to deep square in an otherwise tidy over.
16th over: Australia 50-2 (Perry 21, Mooney 22) Ecclestone around the wicket to the left-hander,t rying to turn in to Mooney with a short leg in place Leg slip and a regulation slip as well. England need this wicket. The day is getting warmer too, still sticky and humid. No run from the over.
15th over: Australia 50-2 (Perry 21, Mooney 22) Sciver tries to bang in a few balls, make something happen by hitting the pitch. Finds swing when she pitches up as well. Three singles regardless.
14th over: Australia 47-2 (Perry 20, Mooney 21) Ecclestone comes on and slows the scoring immediately, Perry fishing without much contact at a few balls after a Mooney single.
Chris Mackenzie-Davey takes passionately to his keyboard.
“In response to Tim’s comments on Canberra yesterday: been living here for 20 years and take from a local, it’s fantastic. World class galleries and museums, vibrant arts scene, fantastic restaurants and fresh food markets, superb wine district, wonderful parks and gardens, national parks and bush reserves everywhere, five universities with campuses, incredible local region to explore including NSW south coast, Snowy Mountains and a myriad of other things to do and see. What’s not to love! Only things lacking are first-class cricket and an A-League football team. Oh, and we have Australia’s best beer!”
Pretty sure the smaller breweries in most Australian cities would all have a decent claim to that last part, but the rest is true enough. Also when Canberrans complain about “peak hour” traffic for a five-minute delay it’s quite funny. Bloody cold in winter though, and can be bloody hot in summer. No escape on the great inland plains.
13th over: Australia 46-2 (Perry 20, Mooney 20) Sciver to replace Brunt, but it doesn’t start well as she overpitches and gets smoked through cover for four. Perry’s most convincing shot of the morning. Finds some outswing but Perry reaches for it and guides four through the gap at gully. Catches up to Mooney’s score.
12th over: Australia 38-2 (Perry 12, Mooney 20) Short ball from Shrubsole down the leg side, money for jam, but Mooney can’t catch up with it. Mooney is happy to leave most everything else.
11th over: Australia 38-2 (Perry 12, Mooney 20) A clever shot from Mooney, opening the face of her bat and diverting crisply behind point for four, and that was a decent enough ball from Brunt. A few singles as well, Mooney is keeping things moving.
10th over: Australia 31-2 (Perry 11, Mooney 14) Again Perry flings a drive at Shrubsole and very nearly edges behind again. The batting machine is not purring. Gets another thick outside edge past gully for a couple of runs.
9th over: Australia 29-2 (Perry 9, Mooney 14) A bit streaky and a bit controlled from Perry, driving with the outswing of Brunt to divert the ball along the ground past gully for four runs. Then it should be a dot ball as Perry clips to midwicket but Kate Cross lets it through her hands for three. We noticed she left a half-eaten banana on the boundary at fine leg, so perhaps there was some fruit-related slipperiness involved.
8th over: Australia 21-2 (Perry 2, Mooney 14) Nearly out, Mooney, with a big bottom-handed drive aimed at mid-on. Misses it and it nearly takes the inside edge to the keeper. Shrubsole follows up with a peach to Perry that nearly takes the outside edge. Survival time.
7th over: Australia 20-2 (Perry 2, Mooney 13) A solid thunk from Mooney’s bat as she strides forward and cover-drives Brunt, but straight at the fielder. Can’t get a run until a flick to leg from the sixth ball.
6th over: Australia 19-2 (Perry 2, Mooney 12) Shrubsole to partner Brunt, swinging one in that almost gets Perry in trouble lbw as well. Just gets some bat onto it for a single. Shrubsole bowls a right-hander’s line to the left-handed Mooney, who glances off her leg stump for four.
5th over: Australia 13-2 (Perry 0, Mooney 7) Just a couple of Brunt deliveries to finish the over that was interrupted yesterday, as the bowler appeals for one that hits the middle of Perry’s bat.
Updated
It will be Perry and Mooney to resume, with Brunt bowling. Three slips, gully, point, cover, mid-off, mid-on, long leg.
Running my eye over Manuka Oval, all looks good here. Plenty of green still on the surface, and some ragged patches at both ends of the strip. Is there enough there for the bowlers to force enough mistakes? That is the question. But at least, unlike most pitches we’ve seen in this format, there is a fair chance.
Here’s my match report from yesterday’s play, which was great while it lasted.
Preamble
Good Canberra morning, nuffies. Here we are from the Australian capital once again, and the first thing I need to report to you is that it isn’t raining. Not now, at least. The forecast suggests showers could happen at any point during the day, though the radar isn’t showing much at present. So who knows.
We lost two full sessions yesterday to rain, right at a very exciting part of the day, which has taken the air out of the game. The paths to a win for either team from here are: one, an 18-wicket day in which England fall short. Two, eight Australian wickets by perhaps an hour after lunch, and England have time to chase.
Right now the Aussies are 52 runs ahead and two wickets down, and England will resume with rested bowlers and an almost new ball. So who knows.
