England women secure draw to keep Ashes hope alive

Wednesday 15th November 2017 07:07 EST
 
 

England women kept alive their hopes of reclaiming the Ashes by securing a draw in the lone day-night Test at the North Sydney Oval on Sunday (November 12). Heather Knight led from the front, scoring a dodged 79 not out, as England reached 206 for 2 in their second innings on the final day before the captains shook hands midway through the final session of play.

Resuming their innings with a deficit of 128 at the start of the fourth afternoon, England suffered two losses in the first session but not before the overnight pair of Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield took their partnership from 40 to 71. Beaumont was the first to depart, done in by an Amanda-Jade Wellington delivery that turned square, and Winfield followed her back into the hut soon after, trapped plumb in front off Tahila McGrath with Tea eight overs away.

Georgia Elwiss and Knight took minimal risks before the session break and after it. The pair took England to Tea at 98 for 2 and then added 54 runs in the pre-dinner session as the Australians struggled for a breakthrough. Knight picked up some pace just before the break to push England's total past the 150-run mark.

Knight and Elwiss seemed hardly troubled by the second new ball either as they put on a defiant 117-run partnership for the third wicket. The skipper raised her second 50 of the game in the over after Dinner and went on to top-score in the second innings with an unbeaten 79 off 220, while Elwiss finished nine short of a half-century.

Ellyse Perry bagged the Player of the Match award for her stunning double ton that handed Australia the advantage on the penultimate day.

Australia and England spilt the four points on offer equally, meaning the hosts lead the multi-format series 6-4. England now need five of the six points from the upcoming three-match T20I series to win the Ashes while Australia need only a win to claim the silverware.

Brief scores: England Women 280 (Tammy Beaumont 70, Heather Knight 62; Ellyse Perry 3-59) and 206/2 (Heather Knight 79*; Georgia Elwiss 41*; Tahila McGrath 1-12) drew with Australia Women 448/9 decl (Ellyse Perry 213*; Sophie Ecclestone 3-107, Laura Marsh 3-109).


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