By Priya Nagi: Ellyse Perry fell simply in need of scoring her third Test century as England fought again in opposition to Australia on the primary day of the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge on Thursday. Australia reached 328/7, with Annabel Sutherland unbeaten on 39 and Alana King on seven. The match noticed a momentum swing between the 2 groups after Australia selected to bat first.
Australia had a powerful begin and had been cruising at 215/3 near tea when rain interrupted the sport. After the resumption, England’s Sophie Ecclestone and debutant Lauren Filer took three fast wickets, together with the dismissals of Healy for a duck and Perry for 99. However, Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland managed to regain some momentum for Australia, taking the workforce previous the 300-run mark earlier than stumps.
Ecclestone showcased her expertise because the world’s premier spinner, bowling 31 overs and ending the day with figures of 3-71. Filer, who was a shock inclusion in England’s Test squad, troubled the Australian batters along with her tempo and bounce, taking two essential wickets, together with that of Beth Mooney for 33 and denying Perry her century.
Promoted to No.3 for this Test, Perry made her intentions clear from the beginning, dispatching Ecclestone’s first ball to the boundary. She shaped a vital partnership with Tahlia McGrath, serving to Australia acquire a bonus within the center session. McGrath performed some glorious pictures and reached her second Test fifty off simply 67 deliveries. However, Ecclestone spun one previous McGrath’s defenses, dismissing her for a career-best 61 and ending their partnership of 119 runs.
Meanwhile, Perry continued to dominate in opposition to the red-ball, punishing free deliveries and dealing with Ecclestone’s challenges. Her innings was interrupted by rain when she was on 82 and Australia was at 213/3. After the rain delay, Ecclestone struck twice in an over, dismissing Jess Jonassen for 11 and bowling Healy for a duck. England fought their approach again into the sport, decreasing Australia to 226/5.
Earlier within the day, Healy gained the toss and selected to bat, a choice that happy each captains as England’s Heather Knight revealed she would have made the identical selection. Debutant Phoebe Litchfield appeared snug on the high of the order however was given out lbw on 23. Mooney, who had just a few fortunate escapes, ultimately edged Filer to gully, leaving Australia at 83/2.
The Ashes Test marks the start of the multi-format sequence, with 4 factors accessible for this match and two factors for every of the three ODIs and three T20s. Australia have held the Ashes since 2015.
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