Annabel Sutherland has become the youngest woman in history to hit an Ashes Test century but Australia’s party on day two at Trent Bridge was crashed by an English fightback.
England went to stumps on Friday night at 2-218, with Tammy Beaumont firing her way to an unbeaten 100 late in the day to lead the hosts’ response to Australia’s 473.
That has left the game firmly in the balance, with both teams seeking a win to start the multi-format series ahead of the six white-ball fixtures
It also took some of the spotlight off Sutherland’s feats, after the allrounder hit 137 not out batting at No.8 and then took the first wicket of Emma Lamb for 10.
After initially stabilising the innings when she arrived following a collapse of 3-12 on Thursday evening, Sutherland took charge on Friday.
She hit 16 boundaries in her knock and one big six, when she took on England’s star spinner Sophie Ecclestone late in the innings and hit her over the legside.
The way she played Ecclestone was a feature of her innings, given the English spinner claimed the first five-wicket haul of her career with 5-128.
At age 21, Sutherland is the youngest Australian since Belinda Clark in 1991 to score a Test century and the youngest of all-time from either nation in an Ashes Test.
“It’s pretty special today, I am not sure it has quite sunk in yet,” Sutherland said.
“It’s something you dream of growing up. Just to pull on the Baggy Green is, but to do that job for the team is pretty cool.”
Her hundred was also the fastest by an Australian in women’s Test history, and the first three-figure score by a player walking out at No.8.
There is little doubt Sutherland will finish her career batting much higher, following the path of Ellyse Perry who batted as low No.10 early in her career and is now at No.3.
Annabel Sutherland of Australia celebrates reaching her century. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Sutherland hit back-to-back centuries for Victoria last summer, followed by another ton in the warm-up match against England A last week.
“Shell (coach Shelley Nitschke) did tell me I was batting at No.8, and I gave her a little eye roll,” Sutherland quipped.
“I just absolutely love batting. The coaches probably try and kick me out of the nets when their shoulders get sore.
“It’s something I have always loved doing, having that balance with ball and bat. You are always in the game.”
After Sutherland’s innings, the momentum of the day changed and Beaumont took charge.
The right-hander constantly punished Australia as they struggled with their lengths, putting away loose balls at will and pulling with ease when Australia dropped short.
She worked the ball nicely off her pads, and brought up her maiden Test century in that fashion in the penultimate over of the day.
Australia also had errors to rue. They should have had Beaumont caught in close on 61 when she hit an Alana King ball onto her foot and into Phoebe Litchfield’s hands at short leg, but it was given not out.
Australia had the chance to review and on-field officials could have sent the decision upstairs to see if it had been a bump-ball, but neither did so.
“I knew I hit it, I knew it hit my foot, I didn’t know if it hit the floor as well,” Beaumont said.
“Not my decision to make. Not mine to overturn. It’s hard to tell when it’s hit your foot if it has hit the ground at the same time.”
Sutherland said the visitors had considered reviewing.
“It was spoken about, we went through our processes and got that one wrong, which happens,” she said.
“You miss a few every now and then.”
It is the second time in the first two days of the Test there has been confusion over the DRS, with England taking approximately 20 seconds to review a decision on Thursday that prompted Jess Jonassen’s dismissal.
Under ICC rules, teams have 15 seconds to launch a review once a decision is given not out.
But in that instance, the countdown did not immediately appear on the big screen and the review was not stopped.
Beaumont survived another chance on 88 when she edged Ashleigh Gardner, and it went past Jess Jonassen at slip untouched.
Gardner did claim one wicket, however, when she had Heather Knight caught behind for 57 before Nat Sciver-Brunt went to stumps not out on 41.
© AAP
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