'Utter brilliance' - Alana King produces 'magic' Shane Warne-esque delivery to bowl Sophia Dunkley in Ashes Test win
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Published 01/02/2025 at 10:54 GMT
It was another day to forget for England as they slumped to 170 all-out with the bat and lost the one-off Ashes Test by an innings and 122 runs. Such a heavy defeat was insult to injury for the tourists, who were whitewashed 16-0 by Australia, having lost every match in the series. And they had to watch the joyous celebrations as Alana King took a spectacular wicket to dismiss Sophia Dunkley.
Alana King
Image credit: Getty Images
Australia's Alana King took the wicket of the Women's Ashes series with a devastating leg-spin delivery that left England's Sophia Dunkley bamboozled.
It was a wicket that almost mirrored the great Shane Warne's 'Ball of the Century' against Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes.
And, fittingly, King produced it at the Shane Warne Stand end of the MCG, dismissing Dunkley for four and leaving England in a perilous situation in their attempt to cut Australia's commanding lead on day three of the one-off Test.
TNT Sports' commentary team were understandably effusive in their praise of King, having watched the ball turn sharply on its way past the helpless Dunkley.
"What a delivery from Alana King!" roared Alister Nicholson on commentary. "She's spinning Australia to an Ashes whitewash. Utter brilliance."
Matthew Mott added: "That's gonna beat just about anyone in world cricket regardless of how in form they are. That's her 20th wicket in the series so far - this is magic from Alana King.
"Goodness me, pitching outside leg and hitting the top of off, that is the stuff dreams are made of. Magic from Alana King at the MCG at the Shane Warne Stand end."
King's spectacular wicket reduced England to 104-4 in their second innings, with the tourists again struggling to cope with the conditions and Australia's aggressive bowling.
Heather Knight's side had come into the Test hoping to salvage some pride and avoid a series whitewash. But day three was another damaging one for England as they collapsed with the bat and succumbed to an ignominious defeat, losing by an innings and 122 runs.
It followed an error-strewn display of fielding on day two, when several dropped catches allowed the hosts to put together a 440-run innings.
"There's been a lot of talk about coming out to play the Test match, starting again and almost forgetting about the series. But it's almost like those bad habits have crept into this Test match as well," said TNT Sports' Alex Hartley.
"The wicket isn't offering much; it's spinning, we know that, and there's a tiny bit in it for the seamers, but England didn't have an answer to Australia's bowling plans.
"They've created opportunities with the ball, they've just put them all down, which is so frustrating to see as they just haven't been able to capitalise on that."
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