The England A Women's team suffered a stunning collapse in the final hours of the unofficial Test against Australia A, losing their way to a 25-run loss under fading lights in Sydney.
Chasing 289 in 63 overs, England A were well-placed at 212-4 and then at 252-5, but the lower order capitulated, handing Australia A a 25-run win.
An England side last won a first-class match in Australia back in 2013/14 Women's Ashes Test match in Perth, when the touring team led by Charlotte Edwards won by 61 runs.
One-off unofficial Test, Australia A Women vs England A Women
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- Ball by ball Over
On Tuesday, England A lost five wickets for 12 runs, relinquishing the chance to break their drought in Australia. Australia A captain Charli Knott turned out to be the star. Having hit a fifty in the first innings, she hit 123 in the second innings, declared on 353-6, and took the final wicket with four balls left in the match, cleaning up Georgia Davis to seal the game.
She was one of four Australians to take two wickets each in the innings.
Knott pressed herself into action under fading nights, when the umpires deemed it dangerous to employ pace.
Hollie Armitage top-scored for England A with a 111-ball 75, combining with Alice Capsey (55) for a 91-run stand. Paige Scholfield, who hit 164 in the first innings, pushed the tourists closer to the target with a quick 39 off 24, but her dismissal in the 56th over kickstarted a lower-order collapse. Issy Wong stayed 21 balls for her nine, keeping England in the hunt, but a run out at the end of the 62nd over left them nine down.
Australia A, having finished day three on 179-3, added a further 174 before declaring at six down. Knott's century was supported by keeper Nicole Faltum's 54 and No.3 Rachel Trenaman's 76. Mady Villiers was the pick of the bowlers with a 3-97.
Before that, England A had put up a strong response to Australia A's first innings total of 343, posting 407 in their first innings. It was headlined by a 210-run stand between Capsey and Scholfield, the first double-hundred partnership for the fourth wicket an English side in women’s first-class cricket.
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