• Alana King destroyed England's batting line up with her wonderful bowling on Day 1 of the pink-ball Test.

  • Australia ended the opening day in a commanding position at 56/1, trailing England by 114 runs.

Twitter reactions: Alana King’s brilliance gives Australia upper hand against England on Day 1 of the pink-ball Test | Women’s Ashes 2025
Alana King (Image Source: X)

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Australia ended Day 1 of the pink-ball Test, part of Women’s Ashes 2025, in a commanding position at 56/1, trailing England by 114 runs after bundling them out for 170.

Nat Sciver-Brunt fought hard with a gritty 51, but England’s batting collapsed under pressure, with Alana King leading Australia’s attack with 4/45. Australia’s reply was steady, with Phoebe Litchfield (20 not out) and Annabel Sutherland (24 not out) ensuring no further damage after Lauren Bell dismissed Georgia Voll early. England’s bowlers struggled to create consistent pressure, allowing Australia to settle in. With nine wickets in hand, Australia will look to build a strong lead on Day 2. England’s hopes rest on early breakthroughs to keep the match competitive.

England’s struggles with the bat: Alana King’s impactful spell

England endured a challenging outing with the bat, folding for 170 in 71.4 overs. The early dismissals of Maia Bouchier and Tammy Beaumont within the first eight overs set a worrying tone. Heather Knight tried to steady the innings with a patient 25, but her dismissal left England struggling at 47/3. Sciver-Brunt stood firm, crafting a hard-fought 51 off 129 balls, but lacked substantial support from the other end. Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt-Hodge made starts but couldn’t convert them into big scores.

King was the wrecker-in-chief, picking up 4/45 in 23 overs, troubling the batters with her accuracy. Kim Garth’s early breakthroughs and Darcie Brown’s pace kept England on the back foot. The lower order failed to resist, as England lost their last three wickets for just 26 runs. Amy Jones, Sophie Ecclestone and Bell fell cheaply, contributing little to the total. England’s struggles against spin were evident, as King extracted sharp turn to dismiss key batters. The Australian bowlers maintained relentless pressure, never allowing partnerships to flourish.

Also READ: AUS-W vs ENG-W: Australia legend Ellyse Perry faces injury setback on Day 1 of the Pink Ball Test | Women’s Ashes 2025

Australia’s steady start with the bat

Australia responded confidently with the bat, finishing Day 1 at 56/1 in 22 overs. Openers Litchfield and Voll provided a steady start, cautiously negotiating the early movement. England’s bowlers tried to extract help from the pink ball but lacked sharp penetration. Voll showed early intent, hitting two boundaries before falling to Bell for 12. Litchfield remained solid at the crease, playing with a measured approach. She carefully played out the new ball, ensuring Australia didn’t lose quick wickets.

Sutherland, promoted to No. 3, looked comfortable and built a promising partnership. The pair added an unbeaten 37-run stand, guiding Australia to a strong position at stumps. Sutherland played some fluent drives, finishing the day on 24 off 51 balls. Litchfield remained unbeaten on 20, showing great composure under lights. With just 114 runs behind, Australia will look to build a commanding lead on Day 2.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Also WATCH: Beth Mooney plucks a stunner to dismiss Maia Bouchier on Day 1 of the Pink-Ball Test | Women’s Ashes 2025

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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