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Australia ended Day 1 of the pink-ball Test, part of , in a commanding position at 56/1, trailing England b✱y 114 runs after bundling them out for 170.
Nat Sciver-Brunt fought hard with a gritty 51, but England’s batting collapsed under pressure, with Alana King leading Australia’s attack with 4/45. Australia’s reply was steady, with Phoebe Litchfield (20 not out) and Annabel Sutherland (24 not out) ensuring no further damage after Lauren Bell dismissed Georgia Voll early. England’s bowlers struggled t𝓰o create consistent pressure, allowing Aust♔ralia to settle in. With nine wickets in hand, Australia will look to build a strong lead on Day 2. England’s hopes rest on early breakthroughs to keep the match competitive.
England’s struggles with the bat: Alana King’s impactful spell
England endured a challenging outing with the bat, folding for 170 in 71.4 overs. The early dismissals of Maia Bouchier and Tammy Beaumont within the first eight overs set a worrying tone. Heather Knight tried to steady the innings with a patient 25, but her dismissal left England struggling at 47/3. Sciver-Brunt stood firm, crafting a hard-fought 51 off 129 balls, but lacked substantial support from the other end. Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt-Hodge made starts but couldn’t convert them into big scores.
King was the wrecker-in-chief, picking up 4/45 in 23 overs, troubling the batters with her accuracy.’s early breakthroughs and Darcie Brown’s pace kept England on the back foot. The lower order failed to resist, as England lost their last three wickets for just 26 runs. Amy Jones, Sophie Ecclestone and Bell fell chಌeaply, contributing little to the total. England’s struggles against spin were evident, as King extracted sharp turn to dismiss key batters. The Australian bowlers maintained relentless pressure, never allowing partnerships to flourish.
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Australia’s steady start with the bat
Australia responded confidently with the bat, finishing Day 1 at 56/1 in 22 overs. Openers Litchfield and Voll provided a steady start, cautiously negotiating the early movement. England’s bowlers tried to extract help from the pink ball but lacked sharp penetration. Voll showed early intent, hitting two boundaries before falling to Bell for 12. Litchfield remai🍃ned solid at the crease, playing with a measured approach. She carefully played out the new ball, ensuring Australia didn’t lose quick wickets.
Sutherland, promo𒅌ted to No. 3, looked comfortable and built a promising partnership. The pair added an unbeaten 37-run stand, guiding Australia to a strong position at stumps. Sutherland played some fluent drives, finishing the day on 24 off 51 balls. Litchfield remained unbeaten on 20, showing great composure under lights. With just 114 runs behind, Australia will look to build a commanding lead on Day 2.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Australia’s day at the MCG. Once again, Australia had the better of the big moments and th🍨ey’re already just 114 behind England’s first innings.
— Lachlan Jeffery (@LachlanJeffery)
Alana King in the Women’s Ashes:
ODIs: 11 wickets in 3 matches
T20Is: 3 wickets in 3 matches
Test: 4 wickets in the 1st inningsSensational !! 🔥
— Cricketism (@MidnightMusinng)
Alana King is not fun.
— England's Barmy Army 🏴🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy)
Alana King
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell)
Alana King is genuinely unplay༒able at the moment.
The flight and turn she is generating is insane.
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7)
paying actual money to watch alana king play cricket has🃏 been a fantastic financial decision
— Michael Thompson 📰 (@mikkithompson93)
Alana King is just too good!
— Lachy (@Lachy_Steele)
Amazing performance from Alana King. Totally dominant. Best spℱell🔥 by a leg-spinner at the MCG since…
— Josh Schönafinger (@joshschon)
Alana King by name, Warrior by nature. 💪🔥
— UP Warriorz (@UPWarriorz)
Day 1, Stumps
Australia: 56/1, trail by 114 runs 🏏
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ)
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