Women’s Ashes 2019, England Women v Australia Women Day 4: Preview, predictions

At County Ground, Taunton, England Women finished the day on 199/6, 221 behind Australia Women’s first-innings score. With one day to go, the Test can have only one winner. And given that a draw was all they needed, Australia Women have all but retained The Ashes.

Australia batted briskly in the morning, losing wickets in the process. Jess Jonassen hit Katherine Brunt to point, while Sophie Ecclestone clean bowled debutant Sophie Molineux. Beth Mooney then got to her maiden fifty before debutant Amy Jones caught her well at third-man, off Nat Sciver, for 51.

Australia finally declared on 420/8. Ellyse Perry’s third ball swung in and moved away off the seam to hit off-stump and send Tammy Beaumont back.

Jones (64) battled on, adding 79 with Heather Knight before the latter tried to sweep and missed to become Molineux’s first Test wicket, leg-before. And from cover, Nicole Bolton ran out Georgia Elwiss.

Then Molineux struck twice more, having Jones caught at mid-off and trapping Sarah Taylor leg-before. Sciver (62*) added 57 with Brunt. Just when it seemed the danger had passed, a ball from Ashleigh Gardner hit Brunt’s bat, then pad, the stumps.

Anya Shrubsole saw England through to stumps. They need another 72 to make Australia bat again – which the tourists might, anyway.

Brief scores

Australia Women 420/8 dec. (Ellyse Perry 116, Rachel Haynes 87; Katherine Brunt 2/48) lead England Women 199/6 (Amy Jones 64, Nat Sciver 62*; Sophie Molineux 3/71) by 221 runs.

Key players

Nat Sciver (England Women): This is Sciver’s first Test fifty, and she will definitely want to convert it into something bigger. Then, depending on whether England have to bat again, she will have to take centre-stage again, with her delectable strokes or medium-paced bowling.

Sophie Molineux (Australia Women): Molineux has already taken three wickets on Test debut with her left-arm spin. She will definitely have her eyes on that five-wicket haul – a marvellous achievement on maiden Ashes appearance.

Prediction

Australia to bat again and play out time, winning The Ashes.