da pinnacle： Australia has won the first women’s Ashes Test match by 5 wickets at TheGabba today to take a one-nil lead into the second and final Test of theSeries in Sydney, starting on Saturday 22nd February
ECB Media Release17-Feb-2003Australia has won the first women’s Ashes Test match by 5 wickets at TheGabba today to take a one-nil lead into the second and final Test of theSeries in Sydney, starting on Saturday 22nd February.Attacking and powerful batting from the Australia Captain, Belinda Clark andKaren Rolton eroded England’s lead of 138. The pair posted a second wicketpartnership of 88 runs, the only other meaningful stand in the matchfollowing Sarah Collyer and Kathryn Leng’s 57 for the first wicket on thefirst morning.Australia looked as though they would reach the required runs with somecomfort, but England took four quick wickets to leave the home side on111-5, and needing 27 more runs to win with the memory of yesterday’scollapse heavy on their minds.Exceptionally consistent bowling from both Sarah Collyer and Laura Harperslowed the run rate down, as the home side limped from 104-2 in the 37thover to 114-5 in the 52nd. Collyer closed with two wickets, having bowled25 overs, 18 of them maidens.It was the stand between Collyer and Leng which provided England with aplatform for their best performance against Australia since 1984-5. ClareConnor, England Captain, had hoped for the addition of 20-30 runs onEngland’s overnight total of 86-8, but the tail added just 6 to reach adisappointing 92 all out.Clare Taylor was caught by a full-length diving catch from Lisa Sthaelaker,trying to hook Cathryn Fitzpatrick, and Laura Newton was caught behind offthe bowling of Emma Twining.England took an early wicket as Sthaelaker was dismissed for noughtattempting to sweep the off-spinner Laura Harper but instead finding LucyPearson at fine leg.When Harper had Rolton caught by debutant Lydia Greenway and Clark followedshortly afterwards to Collyer, England applied pressure to new batters Jonesand Gosko who managed just 4 each.The experienced Julie Hayes assisted newcomer Alex Blackwell, and the pairsaw Australia home, finishing on 18 not out and 9 not out respectively.Connor and her team can take some comfort from their performance, especiallyin the field, and in the knowledge that they are closing the gap on theworld’s leading women’s team.Speaking after the game, Connor said “we are disappointed because we bowledthem out for 78 and blew them away but then didn’t put enough pressure onthem with the bat. It was good to compete with them in every sessionthough, and at one point this afternoon it was swinging our way again.We’ll look forward to having another chance against them in Sydney startingon Saturday”.