Australia left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux took three wickets on day three of the one-off Test against England in Taunton to leave the hosts on 199-6, trailing the Southern Stars’ first-innings total by 221.
Molineux – making her Test debut – removed Heather Knight, Amy Jones and Sarah Taylor as Australia’s bowlers made inroads in what is a must-win match for England to stop the Southern Stars from retaining the Ashes.
The day began with Beth Mooney and Jess Jonassen at the crease for Australia after rain disrupted the majority of day two. While Jonassen departed early for 8, Mooney advanced to a maiden Test half-century, with Molineux chipping in with a 46-ball 21. The dismissal of Mooney saw Meg Lanning call the batters back to the changing room, the Australia skipper declaring with her side 420-8.
A first Test wicket for Sophie Molineux ☝️#WomensAshespic.twitter.com/Y2iBMb9Wy4
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 20, 2019
England’s reply was disrupted quickly as Ellyse Perry bowled opener Tammy Beaumont for a three-ball duck. Jones and Knight rebuilt with a stand of 79 before Molineux claimed her maiden Test wicket, Knight missing the ball while sweeping to be adjudged lbw.
Jones’ innings was boundary-laden as she advanced to a half-century on Test debut, but Georgia Elwiss was run out before Jones departed herself, chipping a catch into the hands of mid-off to finish on 64.
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Nat Sciver resisted – for a large part in the company of Katherine Brunt – as she went past fifty. Ashleigh Gardner then bowled Brunt to make matters worse for England.
England enter tomorrow needing a miraculous turnaround to keep their Ashes hopes alive.
