Molineux stars as Aussies edge closer to retaining Ashes

Australia are on the cusp of retaining the women’s Ashes, but their hopes of conjuring a Test victory will require something special on the final day after England dug in late on day three in Taunton.

England were 6-199 in their first innings at stumps, still 71 runs shy of the follow-on mark after Australia declared at 8-420 shortly before lunch.

The star of the day was debutante left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux, who collected the wickets of England captain Heather Knight, opener Amy Jones and keeper Sarah Taylor to have England 5-132 early in the final session, but the tourists were unable to budge Natalie Sciver (62no) who remained unbeaten at stumps alongside Anya Shrubsole (1no).

 

Australia will have 108 overs up their sleeve to try and take the 14 wickets they need on Sunday’s final day, with play extended from the usual 100 to make up for some of the two sessions that were lost to rain on Friday’s second day.

However, a draw in the four-day game will be enough to give Australia the 8-0 lead they need in the multi-format, points-based series to retain the Ashes, while England’s hopes of manufacturing the win they need to keep the series alive grow increasingly faint.

After declaring their innings, Australia could hardly have asked for a better start with the ball when a seaming delivery from Ellyse Perry knocked over Tammy Beaumont for a duck, leaving the hosts 1-2 at lunch.

 

But the Australian attack struggled to find its line early in the second session, allowing Knight and Jones to regularly find the boundary, their 50-run stand coming from 13.2 overs.

Fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck made a nervy start to her Test career, bowling a no ball with her first delivery and spraying a wide that missed everything with her next. But she settled, reaching a top speed of 120km/h in her first three-over spell.

Jess Jonassen had a similarly shaky start, hit for three boundaries with her first over, but tightened up to work well in tandem with fellow left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux, tying England down as just seven runs were scored through an eight-over period.

Then Molineux, by far the most threatening of the Australian bowlers through the first half of the session, was rewarded with a dream first Test wicket. Tossing it up to Heather Knight, she tempted the England captain into a big shot only to strike her plumb on the pads, gone for 28 with England 2-80.

 

Jones brought up a fine fifty on debut when she hit Molineux back over her head to the boundary, repaying the faith shown in her by the England selectors after she scored a total of just five runs in the three ODIs.

Image Id: E815BD699FFA49569D3D3D4F23D6D2DE Image Caption: Amy Jones raises her bat on day three // Getty

The stubborn Georgia Elwiss then joined Jones as the hosts looked to reach tea without further damage, but didn’t count on the rocket-arm and deadly aim of Bolton, who threw down the stumps from cover to catch Elwiss short, gone for a 39-ball 9.

Jones’ innings came to an abrupt end on 64 after the break, as she holed out at mid-off off Molineux, looking to go over the top, and the left-arm spinner picked up her third when she trapped the dangerous Sarah Taylor (5) lbw.

From there, Sciver paired with Katherine Brunt to frustrate the Australians, Sciver bringing up her first Test half-century before Ashleigh Gardner struck late in the day, Brunt chopping onto to depart for 15.

 

Molineux bowled 29 of the 83 overs faced by England for figures of 3-71, including five maidens, while Perry (1-30 off 10) was the other wicket taker.

Earlier, Jonassen (8) added just four more to her overnight score before slicing a catch to Sciver at backward point, giving Molineux her first chance to bat in Test cricket.

She got off the mark with a boundary and found it once again with a superb square drive, working with Mooney to boost the Australian total before being bowled by Sophie Ecclestone for 21.

 

Mooney brought up a maiden Test half-century from 87 deliveries, but when she was brilliantly caught by Jones to depart for 51 shortly after, Australia captain Meg Lanning waved Ashleigh Gardner (5no) in, giving the Australian three overs to have a look at England’s openers before the lunch break.

Australia currently hold a 6-0 lead in the points-based series after winning all three ODIs (worth two points apiece).

As the current holders, eight points will ensure the Ashes remain in Australian hands, while England must claim all four points on offer for the Test as well as winning all three T20Is, worth two apiece.

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

England Test squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Kirstie Gordon, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole (vc), Lauren Winfield, Sarah Taylor

Australia lead England 6-0

First ODI: Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by four wickets

Third ODI:  Australia won by 194 runs

July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol