As we enter the fourth and final day of the historic day-night women’s Test match between Australia and England, we will soon see whether Australia will retain the Ashes by day’s end. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:30pm (AEDT) at North Sydney Oval.
Ellyse Perry made history yesterday, hitting a magnificent 213 not out to not only give Australia the ascendency in the first ever day-night women’s Test, but also to break the record for the highest score by an Australian woman in international cricket.
Previously held by Karen Rolton, who hit 209 not out against England in 2001, Perry batted with class and poise as she composed a brilliant double century to make sure the Australians gained a 168-run lead, as the Aussies declared on 9/448, in response to England’s 280.
Perry was supported by the tail of Australia, as wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy (45) Tahlia McGrath (47) and Jess Jonassen (24) all put on big partnerships with the all-rounder to see the Australians to a formidable lead.
England batted out the day as Australia declared not long after the dinner break, as openers Tammy Beaumont (25*) and Lauren Winfield (12) saw out the rest of the day.
As the final day looms, a win for Australia would see the hosts retain the Ashes, as the four points up for grabs would grant the Australians 8 points, exactly what they need to hold onto the famous urn.
A draw, however, looks the most likely scenario, which would split the points between both England and Australia, meaning the English would have to win all three T20Is in order to win back the urn. An English victory is almost out of question.
Players to watch
Australia: Amanda-Jade Wellington
The South Australian leg-spinner, Wellington has looked dangerous this series, but hasn’t had the impact on the scoreboard she would have liked. However, she has everything she needs to take a bag of wickets, bowling in the third innings, on a fourth day pitch. If she fires, Australia could have retained the Ashes by days end.
England: Tammy Beaumont
The opening pocket-rocket, Beaumont put together a well-compiled 70 before she fell to Wellington. She will look for triple figures on the last day, her first of the tour, and steady the English ship by seeing out the day to a draw.
Prediction: Draw
While this is a fourth-day wicket, the pitch seems to be playing fairly well, with no true demons in the wicket. England should see out the day, clean their wounds, and prepare for the T20Is to try to win back the Ashes, as they will see out a draw on the final day of play.
Can Australia break England to retain the Ashes? Or will the English hold strong and live to fight another day? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:30pm (AEDT).
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Match Report An Ellyse Perry double ton was not enough for Australia to gain victory over a defiant England, with captain Heather Knight and Georgia Elwiss seeing out a draw to the first ever day-night women’s Test, ensuring the Ashes are still alive for the English. After a gruelling three days, Australia headed into the final day with a 128 run lead, largely thanks to Ellyse Perry, who scored a phenomenal 213 not out, breaking the record for the highest score by an Australian in any international women’s cricket game. Rescuing Australia from 5/168, Perry put together superb partnerships with Alyssa Healy (45), Tahlia McGrath (47) and Jess Jonassen (24) to put Australia in the commanding position of 9/448 before they declared, after England had made a strong 280 to start off the Test. Openers Tammy Beaumont (37) and Lauren Winfield (34) saw out the night, and then entered the final day 0/40, with Australia needing to take 10 English wickets to secure victory and the four points needed to retain the Ashes. England, however, had other ideas, starting the day well as they looked to be positive and play their own game. Beaumont and Winfield were looking settled before Amanda-Jade Wellington (1/69) bowled Beaumont with a ball that will be talked about for years to come. Pitching on leg stump, the ball dipped, spun and ripped past the edge of Beaumont’s bat, who was neither back or forward, to clip the top of the off stump, immediately invoking celebration and comparisons to that famous ball all the way back in 1993 from Shane Warne. Winfield was the next to fall, Tahlia McGrath (1/12) picking up her first wicket of the innings, trapping Winfield in front with an inswinging yorker. That, however, would be the last wicket to fall for the day, as captain Heather Knight (79 not out) and Georgia Elwiss (41 not out) ground the Australian attack into the ground, giving hardly any chances as they batted with grit and determination. Finally, at 8:30pm, Knight and captain Haynes shook hands, calling an end to the Test, with England ensuring the Ashes would remain alive going into the T20Is, as the two sides split the points. Ellyse Perry was awarded the Player of the Match, for her knock, which will live in the memories of Australian cricket fans for years to come. The draw means England now must win all three T20Is in order to win back the Ashes, and if they drop even one, Australia will retain the urn. The first T20I starts on Friday at North Sydney Oval.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
END OF MATCH: England 2/206 and 280 draw with Australia 9/448 (d) Great innings from Knight and Elwiss, they never really looked in doubt as they played out the last day with relative ease. Only the two wickets fell today, the two openers, one to a jaffa of a ball from Wellington and the other to a big inswinger from McGrath. Whilst this will be remembered as the first ever Women's Day Night Test match, the Test will be all about Ellyse Perry, and her historic 213 not out, a brilliant innings of class, patience and poise. Thanks for joining me today, been a blast, match report will be up soon!
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
104TH OVER Jonassen continues, few dots to start the over off. Last ball of the match coming up? Defended out to the bowler. England 2/206 (104) Knight 79 Elwiss 41
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
103RD OVER Bolton is back on, and Elwiss whips one off her legs for one, and Knight defends off her pads. FOUR Short and wide, Knight backs herself in and is only 21 away from a ton, she may try to get there and stretch this match out for as long as possible. England 2/206 (103) Knight 79 Elwiss 41
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
102ND OVER Jonassen trundles on. FOUR Shot by Knight, worked off her pads, through mid wicket and mid on, beautiful shot. FOUR After another dot, another lovely shot by Knight, drives a full toss through the covers for four. England 2/201 (102) Knight 75 Elwiss 40
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
101ST OVER Wellington continues, and after a couple of dots, Knight takes a bad single, and Elwiss is diving, and this is so so so close. Her bat is just on the line, not sure if it is over or not, it's really tight, if her bat is over the line, it is about a millimeter over. Not out is the call, probably a fair decision in the circumstances. The next one is byes, two of them as Healy misses one down leg after a missed sweep. England 2/193 (101) Knight 67 Elwiss 40
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
100TH OVER Jonassen continues, couple of lovely drives nets Elwiss a couple of twos, she's batted superbly tonight. Jonassen finishes off her set with a couple of dots. England 2/190 (100) Knight 66 Elwiss 40
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
99TH OVER Wellington continues, and great fielding by Gardner, the Test may be over, but you can't find a fault in the Australians in the field, brilliant stuff. Wellington is ripping them, but England are playing it fairly well, seems as though they're playing until 8:30 now. England 2/186 (99) Knight 66 Elwiss 36
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
98TH OVER 8:30 is the magic time for the game to be called at it's earliest, and the Aussies seem to be looking for it. Jonassen continues, and it's put down by Healy? No, a bye, but Healy has kept poorly today, so unlike her, she's normal as tidy as you like. Knight drives down the ground, no run to mid on, and she finishes the over with a defensive shot into the covers. England 2/185 (98) Knight 66 Elwiss 35
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
97TH OVER Big shout to start the over, but pitching outside leg stump renders the appeal unsuccessful. Great fielding by Mooney, who has been shelled by deliveries today, and has continued to field with heart today. Knight has seemed to struggle these past couple of deliveries, but survives the over. England 2/184 (97) Knight 66 Elwiss 35
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
96TH OVER Quick single to Elwiss, as Knight looks to play out Jonassen. Jonassen finishes the over with Knight sweeping, missing and Healy missing two, they nab a bye. England 2/184 (96) Knight 65 Elwiss 35
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
95TH OVER Wellington trundles on, as she has Knight defending in front of her body, before punching a drive down to mid on. England 2/182 (95) Knight 65 Elwiss 34
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
94TH OVER Quick run again from Knight, but bit of confusion once more. Another run from a lap sweep nets Elwiss a run, and Jonassen ends the over with a couple of dots. England 2/182 (94) Knight 65 Elwiss 34
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
93RD OVER Slight mix up in the running, but no harm done. Couple of defensive shots, and a sneaky single from a misfield at cover. Whips one off her pads, but Knight finds the short fine leg. England 2/180 (92) Knight 64 Elwiss 33
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
92ND OVER Jonassen continues, couple of defensive blocks before cutting to cover. FOUR Big full toss edged, through Alyssa Healy's legs, bounces over the helmet and gets four. Bit of a shout to follow up, but nothing from the umpire. England 2/178 (92) Knight 63 Elwiss 32
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
91ST OVER Wellington continues her spell, as Knight sweeps, but straight to the fielder at short fine leg, before being wrapped on the pads, no real shout though as it is sliding down. FOUR Shot from Knight, big front foot down the track and pummels Wellington through mid off and cover for a boundary, she's racing along and now the game is relatively safe, she could look for a century. EDGE! But past Blackwell at first slip, and they nab two. Diving save at cover to end the over, England lead by 6 runs. England 2/174 (91) Knight 63 Elwiss 28
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
And I'm back, sorry for that, internet troubles! We haven't missed a huge amount, England have come out slightly more attacking with Heather Knight bringing up her 50, and the English sitting at 2/168. Jess Jonassen just finished the 90th over, and the match looks to be petering out to a draw.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Hey guys, we are back for the last session, but my stream has cut annoyingly, so i'm work on that at the moment, and hopefully will be back up and running as soon as possible!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Looks like this will just boil out to a draw. England in a must-win for all three T20's then and frankly, I can't see that happening.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
DINNER BREAK: England 2/152 (85) Knight 45 Elwiss 24 Session England. They're almost there, as Australia will need to take 8 wickets in the last session of play. It will be under lights with a relatively new ball, but through Knight and Elwiss, England are almost home to see out a draw. The pitch has offered little to the Australians, with Perry, Schutt, Jonassen, Wellington and McGrath all struggling to create any sort of doubt in the batsmen's minds. Join us in another 40 minutes to see out the final session of the Test.