2nd Women's Test: England Women v Australia Women at Leeds, 6-9 Jul 2001 CricInfo Live Report

2nd Women's Test: England Women v Australia Women at Leeds, 6-9 Jul 2001
Matthew Appleby

Australia Women 1st innings: Stumps - Day 1,
England Women 1st innings: Lunch - Day 1, Tea - Day 1,

AUSTRALIA CLOSE IN ON ENGLAND TOTAL

A tough batting effort by an outclassed England team saw them through to 144 all out in 80 overs in the second and final match of the CricInfo series against Australia.

In reply the tourists had reached 68-1, just 76 behind, in the remaining 24 overs of the day's play. Lisa Keightley (29) and Karen Rolton (26) added 52 after Belinda Clark went for seven, slashing a wide one from Clare Taylor to Dawn Holden in the gully.

Having been put in, England's inexperienced batsmen had little to offer but grit against the fastest woman bowler in the world, Cathryn Fitzpatrick. With a recorded delivery of 120km/hour the Victorian appropriately works for the Australian postal service.

"England showed a bit more intent today. It was harder for them the way the wicket played," said the speedy motorbike delivery rider, who took eight wickets including 5-31 in last week's First Test at Shenley.

Incidentally, another lightning-quick Aussie, Olympic gold-medal winner Cathy Freeman is sponsored by the service, although Fitzpatrick modestly admits, "she has a little bit higher profile than me".

Determined innings of 37 from Sarah Collyer, 31 from Laura Harper and 24 from Dawn Holden - three of England's six under-21s - meant England were always competitive.

While the youngsters shone for England it was 33-year-old Fitzpatrick (5-31) who delivered. "It was good to get them all out before the end of the day," she added, going on to praise a quality fielding display, which included three dismissals from wicket-keeper Julia Price and reflex close-in catches from captain Clark and vice-captain Rolton.

As in the First Test no England partnership added 50, despite Collyer, Harper, Holden and captain Clare Connor lasting more than an hour each.

The two 17-year-olds, Collyer, with a 142-ball 37, and Harper, with a contrasting 70-ball 31, showed the potential of a spirited England team, whose new coach John Harmer effectively starts his new job after this series. Jane Powell is in charge until then, when she becomes Assistant Head Coach.

The match started 30 minutes early so Leeds Rhinos and Salford Reds could use the changing rooms that are shared with the rugby league ground that backs on to Headingley for their evening game.

The match will again begin at 10.30am tomorrow, as England Women, as well as the men's Test team, look set for a long day in the field on Saturday.

GRITTY ENGLAND BATTLE THEIR WAY TO 131-8

In the second match of the CricInfo Test Series against Australia, England's women had battled to 131/8 off 74 overs at tea on the first day.

A determined display from Sarah Collyer, who made 37 off 142 balls, along with a responsible 31 by 17-year-old Laura Harper gave the small, but enthusiastic, Yorkshire crowd something to applaud.

From 44-3 off 34 overs at lunch, 87 runs were added in the 40-over afternoon session. Play had begun half an hour early due to this evening's rugby league match between Leeds Rhinos and Salford at Leeds' home ground, which adjoins Headingley.

England captain, Clare Connor, did not last long after the rain-prolonged break, with a breakback from Carolyn Fitzpatrick bowling her through the gate for 16.

Kate Lowe (11) and Collyer, who is also just 17, followed, both blindingly caught off hard-hit drives. The England number three's 37 was the second highest score by either team so far in the Test series. Unfortunately for England, Michelle Goszko hit a world-record equalling (with New Zealand's Kirsty Flavell) 204 to win last week's First Test at Shenley for Australia.

Australia's bowlers spread the wickets between them this afternoon, with Fitzpatrick's pace and movement giving her figures of 3/21 off 19 overs.

The anticipated rain never looked far away, but four days still seem more than enough for an impressively skilled Australian team to take the match and the series.

ENGLAND MAKE GRIM START IN SECOND TEST

In the second and final Test of the Cricinfo women’s series, England made a grim start after being put in by Australia at Headingley. They were 44-3 off 34 overs at lunch.

With stormy weather, and a Leeds Rhinos rugby league game looming later today, the quickest bowler in women’s cricket, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, was in a hurry to add to the eight wickets she took in the First Test last week. She dismissed both England openers during her new ball spell of 12-7-12-2.

With Charmaine Mason, bowling from the Football Ground end, taking 1-14 from 11 overs, Enmgland will need a lot more dogged batting, and perhaps bad weather, to prevent a series whitewash.

The Test series is Australia’s first since 1998 when they beat England 3-0. Australia’s experienced attack, led by the 33-year-old Fitzpatrick, are outclassing the England team which has six players under 21.

Arran Thompson (19) went first, caught at slip by Lisa Keightley off Fitzpatrick for four. Caroline Atkins lasted 42 balls for her eight runs before falling to an acrobatic catch by Australia 'keeper Julie Price off the same bowler.

Claire Taylor gave Price another diving chance before she had scored to make the total 17-3 after 17.2 overs.

Clare Connor (10) and Sarah Collyer (17) survived until the break against the Australian change bowlers as the clouds closed in and the players left the field five minutes early for lunch.