Meg Lanning’s bold declaration and England’s fearless fourth-innings batting produced a thrilling finale in the solitary women’s Ashes Test at Hobart, where all four results were still possible going into the last over the game.

With the four-day match losing time to rain, a game of the highest quality looked set to peter out. However, rather than bat England out of the game, Australia skipper Lanning declared with Australia 256 runs ahead and with 48 overs still left in the game.

It was a bold declaration that gave England a chance to win a game that had seemed completely out of reach. But stunning contributions from Heather Knight, Nat Sciver and Sophia Dunkley gave England the advantage heading into the final stages, with 45 runs required off the last 10 overs and seven wickets still in hand.

With Sciver and Dunkley at the crease, the game looked won. However, two tight overs from Australia increased the pressure and induced a mistake from Sciver as she was caught at square-leg. It was the breakthrough Australia needed as Amy Jones and Dunkley also departed soon after, the latter to a spectacular diving catch by Beth Mooney at long-on.

With 13 runs needed off 15 balls, England still had three wickets in hand, however two wickets in two balls left Australia one wicket away from victory and England’s remaining batters Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone decided to shut up shop and force the most exciting of draws.

Predictably, cricket fans, pundits and players revelled in a nail-biting finale, with calls growing for more women’s Test cricket to be played and for games to be given a fifth day.

I have honestly never felt so sick in my whole entire life!

Not just any draw one of the best I’ve ever seen!

Kudos to Lanning for declaring when she did to set up an extraordinary test match.

THE SERIES IS STILL ALIVE!
LET PLAY MORE TESR MATCH CRICKET #ashes pic.twitter.com/SigKyY3hRn

— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) January 30, 2022

Simply extraordinary.

Test cricket at its finest. Well played, @englandcricket.

Scorecard: https://t.co/TTPhyHO3x8 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/wsEHJ3ImPO

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) January 30, 2022

Well played Meg Lanning, Heather Knight and both teams. In just 10 sessions (not because of it), they've engineered an excellent, compelling Test. More of it, across five days. And also, crucially, time for multi-day domestic women's cricket. Let this be a springboard. #Ashes

— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) January 30, 2022

Whatever happens, lay off the players, lay off Lanning, & lay off telling 'em what they should & shouldn't be doing. 'Cos whatever it is, it's brilliant. Always against the odds, alway surprising. Oh, & this will finish as the fastest scoring Test. #ashes https://t.co/g50uhsrYmO

— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) January 30, 2022

The greatest Test match that I have been luckily enough to be involved in. Thank you @englandcricket @ @AusWomenCricket for playing such an entertaining game. Now for 5 day Test please

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) January 30, 2022

449 runs in a day's Test cricket. That'll do for entertainment.

— Nick Friend (@NickFriend1) January 30, 2022

Shame there's only one test #Ashes https://t.co/wW6VZ0tGXc

— Sarah Taylor (@Sarah_Taylor30) January 30, 2022

Emotional rollercoaster! What an epic test! 🤪 @julesbreach https://t.co/ZQR8dmQGUO

— Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent MBE (@ejrainfordbrent) January 30, 2022

What a finish that was. Absolutely great for test cricket 🏏 #Ashes

— Marnus Labuschagne (@marnus3cricket) January 30, 2022

The drama of Test cricket. Incredible.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/IvfWxnqQJ0

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 30, 2022

Shame there’s only one! Great test match 👏

— James Anderson (@jimmy9) January 30, 2022

There are days when no team deserves to lose. And that's why Draw is counted as a result in Test Cricket. Today was one such day. Well played both @AusWomenCricket and @englandcricket women 👏🏼 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/Yjzhe9t7q8

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 30, 2022

Play more women’s Test cricket.#Ashes

— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) January 30, 2022

Great Test match .. Fantastic declaration to create the chance of a positive result .. England surely feel it’s a huge opportunity missed .. More Womens Test cricket in the calendar please .. #WAshes

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 30, 2022