1st Women's Test: England Women v Australia Women at Shenley, 24-27 Jun 2001 CricInfo Live Report

1st Women's Test: England Women v Australia Women at Shenley, 24-27 Jun 2001
Kate Laven

England Women 2nd innings: Day Three: Lunch, Day Three: Match Over,
Live Reports from previous days

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN CRUSH ENGLAND BY AN INNINGS TO TAKE LEAD IN CRICINFO SERIES

England tumbled to a heavy innings and 140 run defeat against Australia in the First CricInfo Test match at Shenley Park with more than a day to spare.

They were bowled out for 101 in their second innings, two runs fewer than the first innings total. Their combined totals equalled the individual score made by Australian Michelle Goszko, who yesterday matched the world batting record in women's cricket to win the man of the match award for Australia.

The final four wickets fell for 19 runs though Kate Lowe, the most impressive of England's six new debutants, and Laura Harper both made valuable contributions.

But both perished at the hands of Cathryn Fitzpatrick who added another three wickets to her first innings haul of 5-29. Lowe edged a lifting ball to second slip while Harper was bowled playing across the line.

Leg-spinner Olivia Magno wrapped up England's innings with turning balls that caught tailenders Nicky Shaw and Lucy Pearson unawares, proceedings closing in 61 overs before 3.00pm.

Afterwards England coach Jane Powell said there was much work to do on the batting to ensure they competed with the tourists in the remainder of the series, which features three One-Day Internationals and a second CricInfo Test.

"It was very disappointing in many ways, especially in the batting but we have got to start somewhere and we can't go any lower," she said.

"If I am looking for positives, it is the first time we have taken ten wickets against Australia in more than ten years and there were some good performances from some of our youngsters.

"It is my job is to build them up and get the best out of them which is what I aim to do over the next two weeks but we have a problem with both technique and confidence under pressure.

"They are not getting their head to the line of the ball and that is where we are coming unstuck and we are not playing it straight – trying to whip it round the corner," she said, summing up the main flaws in both England's innings where batsmen got out playing across the line.

She pointed to Laura Harper and Kate Lowe as being among the impressive of the six debutants.

"It was a baptism of fire and some came through it. Lowe has the makings of a good player," she said of the 25-year-old Northamptonshire player batsman who made 23 and 18.

Australian captain Belinda Clark commented: "We were very keen to get a good result first up especially since we knew the weather would be good for a couple of days. All credit to the batters that set it up and the bowlers who did their job.

"It was not easy and although the wicket deteriorated towards the end of the match, we thought it would be more difficult to get them out second time round so we were happy with how we did.

"Michelle Goszko has fought her way back after being dropped from the national side and proving herself in state cricket and she has come back a better player."

AUSTRALIA CLOSE TO INNINGS VICTORY OVER ENGLAND

England were facing a heavy defeat in the first CricInfo Test match against Australia at Shenley Park this morning after a second innings collapse which saw five wickets fall in the session to lunch.

Needing another 241 runs to make Australia bat again, England crashed to 64 for six at lunch on another sweltering day in this Ashes Test series.

After reducing the deficit by eight runs last night, England's second wicket pairing of opener Arran Thompson and nightwatchman Clare Taylor added another five to the total before pace bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick struck in the sixth over of the morning, sending Taylor's middle stump flying.

Hopes rested with Jane Cassar but her stay was brief as she fell leg before to Charmaine Mason having faced 10 balls to make one. Clare Connor, the England captain who was anxious to see her side batting positively today, whatever the outcome of the match set the pace with a prudent mix of watch and run.

Her partnership with Thompson, who was also beginning to settle, put on 29 valuable runs and looked set to continue when Connor was deceived by a slower ball from Therese McGregor, the ball banging dead into the stumps.

She scored two boundaries in her innings of 16, staying at the crease for 48 minutes and facing 44 balls. But the loss of the captain's wicket spelt disaster for England and with the score 45 for four, the Australian's were starting to scent victory.

Two more wickets fell on the same total – a repeat of the first innings when three wickets fell on 87 - with Thompson caught at mid on for 18 and Clare Taylor lbw to McGregor for a duck.