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Australia were too good. England, once again, terrible in many aspects.
Well-earned rests for Sutherland and Mooney as Australia push for a series clean sweep on Thursday. They’ll back themselves to get the 10 remaining wickets for a 16-0 series win.
We’ll be back tomorrow for more blog action. Make sure you check our mastheads for all the latest news and wash-up from the MCG.
All the best. Cheers.
What a day for the home side.
Australia batted all day to put themselves in a commanding position at the end of day two of this one-sided Ashes Test.
Beth Mooney slowed up as stumps approached and is still two runs short of a maiden Test century. Tahlia McGrath could have given her partner the strike in the final over to try and get her hundred but Mooney wanted to come back for two. No Steve Waugh century off the final ball of the day.
It’s her highest Test score and it has been a fabulous knock.
The story of the day, however, was Annabel Sutherland, who cracked 163 and became the first Australian woman to score a Test century at the MCG. The Victorian did it in front of friends and family, continuing her brilliant run in Test cricket.
Into the last 10 minutes of the day, the questions to be answered are: will Beth Mooney get to her maiden Test hundred tonight?
And will England add to their 10 missed chances?
The way today has played out, don’t rule out Mooney reaching 100 from a mis-field or a drop.
Australia 5-414, lead by 244 runs
Ash Gardner tries to work a ball into the leg side but gets a top edge. Filer makes up for her earlier dropped catch as Ecclestone takes a wicket with about 20 minutes remaining in the day.
Australia 5-405 (Mooney 90)
And Mooney is on 89.
Ash Gardner continues to look the goods. She’s on 42.
Play can go until about 10pm AEDT.
This time it’s Filer off her own bowling.
It’s a tough one, high and slow, but Gardner gets a life. Genuinely losing count of how many England have spilled today.
“If you’re not laughing, you’re crying,” says former Australian international Callum Ferguson in commentary for Channel Seven.
Meanwhile, this has just come in from Cricket Australia: “The final attendance for day two is 11,918. This takes the total crowd to 23,561, a world record attendance for any women’s Test match. This surpasses the previous mark of 23,207 in the last Ashes series at Trent Bridge in 2023.”
Australia 4-392, lead by 222 runs
With Sri Lanka 5-136, trailing Australia by 518 runs, play has been abandoned on day three of the opening Test in Galle.
Play will resume at 9.45am local time tomorrow (3.15pm AEDT).
Australia will still back themselves to get the 15 wickets required.
Mooney’s highest Test score is the 85 she scored against England in Nottingham in June 2023.
She’s been playing since 2017 and is yet to crack triple figures. A very solid career, though.
Australia 4-366 off 104 overs, lead by 196 runs (Mooney 70, Gardner 27)
A brilliant day once again for Australia.
Can Beth Mooney reach triple figures tonight? She needs 31. Has made the most of her luck.
Ash Gardner has also chipped in with a handy 21 from 39 balls.
We’re getting close to help yourself to the buffet time now.
England have now been out in the field for close to 100 overs. We’re almost 20 overs into the second new ball.
Beth Mooney (68) is well on her way to a ton, and the hard-hitting Ash Gardner has got through the first 20 balls.
Only rain can provide respite for England, but there’s hardly a cloud in the Melbourne sky.
Another drop catch. This time a sitter by Sophie Ecclestone at first slip. As bad as it gets.