Australia stretched their lead to 252 by the end of the second day's play at the MCG on Friday. Australia started their innings on 56/1 and at stumps were 422 for 5 from 120 overs overall.
Annabel Sutherland who resumed her innings on 24 went onto make 163 off 258 balls. It was her second hundred in women's Tests. Phoebe Litchfield went onto make 45. Alyssa Healy (34) and Ashleigh Gardner (44) came up with crucial contributions.
However, the highlight of the day for Australia was Sutherland's batting and her partnership with Beth Mooney (98* off 149). The two of them added 154 runs together since the loss of Healy's wicket with the team score on 170. Just at the fag end of the day's play, Gardner lost her wicket with the team score on 405. Tahila McGrath was unbeaten on nine at stumps.
Australia Dominate Proceedings On Day 2
The Australian batters made merry as they piled on the pressure on the England bowlers. They managed to pick up five wickets but conceded way too many runs than they would have liked.
Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone picked up two wickets each but both were very expensive. While Bell went for 94 runs off her 25 overs, Ecclestone went for 134 off her 39. The rest of the bowlers were expensive as well. Skipper Heather Knight herself bowled an over as well as she found it tough to rotate her bowlers around while the batters were piling on the pressure.
There was no pressure on the Australian batters throughout the day whatsoever. They scored freely all across the ground. Sutherland was classical wither her strokeplay as he hit 21 fours in her knock. Monney on her way to an unbeaten 98 has hit seven so far. Once she gets to her hundred on day four, she will have an absolute license to pile on this scoring on England.
Thus Day 3 is very important from the perspective of the visitors. They have to bowl them out as quickly as possible and then try to bat well and lessen the deficit as quickly as possible. A good day for England will help them to wrestle the initiative and push for a win in the final two days of the Test match.
They missed as many as seven catches throughout the day's play which added to their misery. The side will have to be a lot better on the field on day 3 as well. Sophie Ecclestone who managed to pick two wickets on day two will need to aim for a few more on day three. Lauren Bell and Nat-Sciver Brunt being experienced pacers will need to share the load as well.
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