DAY 2 of the Women’s Ashes Test was a day of two halves, with a couple of star batting performances ensuring both sides came away from the day pleased. Australia began the day seven wickets down, but continued to pile on the runs thanks to Annabel Sutherland and Alana King continuing where they left off on day one.

Their partnership ended at 51 runs though after King was clean bowled by Lauren Bell. Kim Garth then entered the batting fray, and, after a slow start, managed to put her first ever Test match runs on the board.

But the morning belonged to Sutherland, with the young Victorian going on to post the fastest test century struck by an Australian woman.

The Australian tail-end could not hold on forever though, and after Sophie Ecclestone got to work the Aussies were bowled out for 473, with Sutherland still out there on 137 not out.

Ecclestone truly was the star with the ball for the English in the first innings, claiming her first test match five-wicket haul in the process.

The rest of the day belonged to the English though, with Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver-Brunt in particular all playing a starring role. Beaumont in particular also went into the history books, joining Knight as the only women to have hit a century in all three formats of the game.

It could have been very different though, with Beaumont given a life on four after the Aussies dropped a tough catch, and Beaumont certainly made the most of the reprieve. That was not the only missed chance the Aussies had during Beaumont and Knight’s partnership, with several missed chances and some wayward bowling not helping their cause.

Beaumont and Knight’s 115-run partnership helped the home side really breathe some life into their chances in the match. Knight finished on 57 before Sciver-Brunt came in and continued the run onslaught.

The English ended the day on 2/218, with Beaumont and Sciver-Brunt set to resume at the crease on day three on 100 not out and 41 not out respectively. Wickets were hard to come by for the Australians, but Sutherland and Ash Gardner both managed to make a breakthrough.

DAILY SCORECARD

Day 2

Australia bowled out for 473

Sutherland 137 not out

Ecclestone two wickets

England 2/218

Beaumont 100 not out

Knight 57

Overall

England (2/218) versus Australia (10/473)