Rain Washes Away Chances Of Unlikely England Victory In The Women's Ashes Test

All the action and reaction from the one-off Women's Ashes test
11:00, 29 Jan 2022

Captain Heather Knight and veteran bowler Katherine Brunt set up an unlikely shot at victory in the one-off women’s Ashes Test, before rain dampened England's spirits.

Knight hit the second highest Ashes Test score for England since 1998 with her impressive  rearguard 168 not out as the visitors were bowled out for 297 on the third morning at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. 

Trailing by just 40 runs, brilliant Brunt burst the game right open with two wickets in a superb spell of bowling as the hosts were reduced to 12/2 with the new ball.

But rain arrived on the stroke of lunch and no further play was possible, much to the frustration of the English who are desperate to win the four-day game to avoid being left with a mountain to climb to win the Ashes. 

The tourists are precariously placed in the multi-format series and are currently 4-2 behind after the T20 leg Down Under. 

A draw, which is now the likeliest outcome heading into the final day, would mean Knight’s side would need to win all three ODIs to return with the sacred silverware in their suitcases for the first time since 2014.

England resumed on the penultimate morning still a hefty 102 runs behind of the Aussies’ first-innings 337/8 declared despite Knight’s incredible unbeaten hundred. 

No 10 Sophie Ecclestone continued her fine support act to Knight’s brilliance as they stretched their stunning ninth-wicket stand beyond three figures to further annoy the Aussies.

Ecclestone was eventually dismissed for 34, but Knight passed her previous Test best score of 157 as England ate into the hosts’ diminishing lead. Katie Cross was the last batter out as she was caught at fine leg.

GettyImages 1367441128jpg

Knight’s magnificent unbeaten 168 is the second highest England Ashes Test score behind legend Rachel Heyhoe-Flint’s fine 179 back in 1976. 

Tasked with knocking Australia over cheaply to set up a gettable run chase, England’s new-ball duo of Brunt and Anya Shrubsole got to work. 

Brunt, who took an impressive five-wicket haul in the first innings, found extravagant movement in helpful cloudy conditions. She had Alyssa Healey caught in the slips, for the second time in the match, as the Aussie wicket-keeper recorded her first pair in Test cricket.

And the ever-reliable Brunt had her second when Rachael Haynes was caught at short leg for just four. She is now the only bowler in women’s history to take 50 wickets in all three formats; Tests, ODIs and T20Is. An fantastic achievement given the distinct lack of women’s Tests. 

Rain curtailed England’s plans of building on their momentum as play was prematurely cut short. Showers are forecast to scupper their chances of victory on the final day, and inclement weather has already played its part during the series as two or the three T20Is were washed out last week.

England captain Knight reflected: "We put ourselves in a really nice position. The way we came out before lunch was exactly what I asked of the girls. Anya [Shrubsole] and Katherine [Brunt] were brilliant.

"To pick up those two wickets we feel we can really break the game open, try and get out them for a cheap score and set up a chase. We are still holding out a little bit of hope.

"We will have to bowl out of our skins to put the Aussies under the pump. We will have to keep them under 150 or 200 realistically."

x
Suggested Searches:
The Sportsman
Manchester United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Premier League
Sportsman HQ
72-76 Cross St
Manchester M2 4JG
We will not ask you to provide any personal information when using The Sportsman website. You may see advertisement banners on the site, and if you choose to visit those websites, you will accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy applicable to those websites. The link below directs you to our Group Privacy Policy, and our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by email at: [email protected]

All original material is Copyright © 2019 by The Sportsman Communications Ltd.
Other material is copyright their respective owners.