In a historic display of spin bowling, England’s Sophie Ecclestone has etched her name in the record books, equaling the achievements of cricketing legends. Ecclestone produced a mesmerizing performance in the one-off Women’s Ashes Test against Australia, claiming a remarkable five-wicket haul in both innings to complete a total of 10 wickets in the match.
With her exceptional feat, Ecclestone joined an exclusive club of cricketers who have taken 10 wickets at the iconic Trent Bridge venue. This illustrious list includes renowned names such as England’s James Anderson and New Zealand‘s Richard Hadlee, further solidifying Ecclestone’s position as one of the game’s greats.
Additionally, Ecclestone became only the fourth England women’s cricketer ever to achieve the milestone of capturing 10 wickets in a Test match. Her sensational performance saw her dismiss Australia’s Jess Jonassen, Alyssa Healy, and Darcie Brown twice, showcasing her ability to consistently trouble the batters.
Ecclestone’s exceptional bowling prowess played a crucial role in England’s competitive performance throughout the Test match. After bundling out Australia for 257 runs in the first innings, England set themselves a challenging target of 268 runs to win the solitary Test.
However, the hosts found themselves in a precarious position on Day 4, losing five wickets for 116 runs. They still require 152 runs to secure a memorable victory on the final day of the game. It is worth noting that England’s women achieved their highest successful chase in Test cricket back in 1992 when they reached 173/6 against New Zealand.
Post the day’s play, Ecclestone described feeling a sense of excitement and exhilaration, regarding the presence of her father and brother among the spectators. She cherished the moment as something truly special.
“I’m a bit tired now but it’s all worth it in the end. I’m actually buzzing, with my dad and brother in the crowd. It was a special moment for me. It’s the beauty of Test cricket, to be honest. It’s such a great format of the game and mad how things can change so fast. Hopefully we can put them under a bit of pressure tomorrow morning and go back at them,” said Ecclestone after the end of day’s play as quoted by Sky Sports.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
