The decision of Australia to bat first in the Women’s Ashes 2023 one-off Test was proven right by their batters as they dominated the first day of the match and finished on a score of 328/7. Ellyse Perry was the main contributor for the Aussie side, scoring 99 runs off 153 deliveries. However, Perry unfortunately fell one run short of her hundred and was dismissed by debutant Lauren Filer.
Resuming their innings on Day 2, Aussie batters carried the momentum and kept adding more runs to their total until England’s Lauren Bell gave the English team the much-needed breakthrough by handing over Australia their eighth setback. Bell dismissed Alana King off a brilliant inswinger for 21 runs.
It all happened on the last ball of the 98th over when Bell produced a splendid outside-off and a fuller delivery to King, which the latter attempted to push but found herself stuck in her crease. The ball then swung back in and skillfully manoeuvred through the gap between the bat and pad of King to hit the top of the off-stump with precision. Bell celebrated the dismissal by jumping in joy, while King was left stunned and took a moment to walk back to the pavilion.
Here’s the video:
Belly with the breakthrough! 🤩
Things we love to see. #EnglandCricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/PGj8GKieTa
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 23, 2023
It is worth mentioning that it was Bell’s second wicket in the match as she also had dismissed dangerous Ashleigh Gardner on 40 runs before trapping King.
Apart from Bell, Sophie Ecclestone and Filer also bagged three and two scalps for the English side. However, Australia are still in the dominating position, with Annabel Sutherland batting on 108 off 153 centuries until 110 overs. Sutherland came to bat at the no. 8 position and has so far smashed 14 fours in her century innings. With the exploit of the Sutherland, Australia have now crossed the 410-run mark with two wickets still in hand.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
