England toiled throughout Day 1 of the one-off women’s Test match at Manuka Oval as Australia raked up 327 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Two extremely crucial partnerships in the batting order set Australia for a big total as England failed to capitalise on the momentum despite picking up wickets in a bunch.
The visitors rued dropped chances early on in the innings, chances that could have sealed the game in the early hours of play. After picking up quick wickets of Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney in the first five overs, England dropped Meg Lanning on 14 and Racheal Haynes on 44. The duo added 169 runs together seeing off 50 overs and more importantly a threatening stage of play.
However, both were denied individual centuries as English pacers struck back with the old ball by correcting their lengths and getting them further up the pitch, sending the ball to the corridor of uncertainty.
Two set batsmen were edged back behind the stumps and England once again looked to pull the game back. Once again it was not to be as Tahlia McGrath scored her first half century in Test cricket, alongside Ashleigh Gardner who scored 56 runs off 74 balls.
England were in desperate need of breaking the partnership that had lasted 134 balls and the new ball brought them some fortune. Gardner was troubled consistently by the ball that jagged back into her and ended up getting caught plumb in front of the stumps after surviving a DRS decision.
The final ball of the day saw McGrath needlessly throwing her bat to an avoidable delivery and becoming the seventh batter of the day to get out.
At the end of day’s play, Australia were 327/7 in 97 overs.
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