Annabel Sutherland stars as Australia surge into 252-run lead and towards Women’s Ashes whitewash on day two of Test

Updated 31/01/2025 at 14:38 GMT

Australia hold a commanding 252-run lead over England in what was a chastening day in the field for Heather Knight's side on day two of the one-off Test. There was little cause for optimism in the Melbourne sunshine, with six dropped catches. It would be all the more frustrating for England after some fine bowling from Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone, but it was a day of missed chances.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 31: Annabel Sutherland of Australia raises her bat after making a century during day two of the Women's Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 31, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Image credit: Getty Images

Annabel Sutherland ruthlessly punished England's wastefulness in the field as her historic century left the hosts in a commanding position on day two of the one-off Women's Ashes Test.

Sutherland posted the highest individual score in a women's Test at the MCG, surpassing England keeper Betty Snowball's 83 not out in 1935, and became the ground's first-ever female Test centurion.

The 23-year-old Victorian was eventually dismissed for 163 after being bowled out by Ryana MacDonald-Gay, and was greeted to a thoroughly deserved standing ovation upon leaving the field.

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Sutherland's impressive haul from 258 balls marked her third Test century, which was all the more significant given it came at a venue where she spent her childhood watching cricket.

Her replacement at the crease - Ashleigh Gardner - was dropped at 12 by Sophie Ecclestone off the bowling of MacDonald-Gay, who prematurely began celebrating before the reality of another dropped catch hit home.

Gardner then hit a four straight afterwards as Australia moved past 350 runs, summing up a dismal day for the tourists.

Australia surged into a 252-run lead before declaring at the close of play, as England were left to rue a slew of dropped catches on a sobering day in Melbourne.

It would be clutching at straws to find any positives from an England perspective, but it could have been very different had they built on Phoebe Litchfield's dismissal at 99-2.

Alyssa Healy's dismissal at 170-3 from Ecclestone's delivery looked like it could have been another turning point, but there were scant positives for England from that point onwards.

Their fielding has come under increasing scrutiny in this series and none more so than on Friday after more dropped catches sparked another inquest.

Dani Wyatt-Hodge dropped Sutherland at point when she was on 29, while Beth Mooney profited from several dropped catches: from Amy Jones at wicket, Macdonald-Gay at cover, Ecclestone at first slip and Maia Bouchier at gully.

It was a case of damage limitation heading into the final few overs of the day, with Mooney and Gardner seeing out the day’s play in impressive style.

Mooney took Australia's lead beyond 200 runs with her nudge to the covers, and took her partnership with Gardner past 50 with another four through square leg.

Mooney surpassed her highest Test score of 85, reaching 86 when she hit a single from the bowling of Ecclestone.

Lauren Filer then agonisingly let another catch slip in a reprieve for Gardner on 36, resting her head on the turf in disbelief after the ball slipped from her grasp.

Filer would take out Gardner on 44 from Ecclestone's bowling at fine leg for the final wicket of the day, but Australia remained in firm control with a score of 422-5 at stumps, with Mooney unbeaten on 98.

An embarrassing whitewash is now becoming increasingly more likely, in what will be the first clean sweep after the Women's Ashes was altered into a multi-format series.

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