England endured another nightmare day in the field in the Women’s Ashes, dropping seven catches as Australia closed day two on 422-5, with a 252 run lead.
Annabel Sutherland led the way for the Aussies with a dominant 163, while she was aptly supported by Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 98.
England had plenty of chances to stem Australia’s momentum but their fielding came under scrutiny once more. Here is a list of every dropped catch by England on day two.
26.6 overs: Sutherland 29* dropped Wyatt-Hodge, bowled Ecclestone, Australia 63-1
Danni Wyatt-Hodge was the first England player to put down a chance in the first session, spilling a diving effort at backward point. Sutherland looked to drive Sophie Ecclestone’s full, wide delivery through the covers but sliced the ball on the up, to the fielder's right.
The sprawling Wyatt-Hodge made up the ground and got two hands to the ball, but was unable to keep hold of it, earning Sutherland a reprieve. She duly punished the tourists, racking up a further 134 runs to rub salt in the England wounds.
28.2 overs: Sutherland 31* dropped Jones, bowled Ecclestone, Australia 71-1
England did not have to wait much longer for another chance to dismiss Sutherland, but spurned their opportunity again. Ecclestone was once more the unfortunate bowler, flighting one that pitched outside off, tempting Sutherland forward to defend.
The ball gripped on the track and took a thick outside edge on its way to Amy Jones behind the stumps, who could not react quickly enough and the ball struck her knee instead. It was the most difficult chance of the day, and the keeper could be forgiven for missing it, given how much the ball deviated off Sutherland’s bat, but it was a costly miss nonetheless.
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Match One-off Test, Australia Women vs England Women
67.2 overs: Mooney 8* dropped MacDonald-Gay, bowled Ecclestone, Australia 184-3
For the third time in the innings, Ecclestone created a chance, only for her field to let her down. This time Ryana MacDonald-Gay was the guilty party at short cover, squandering the chance after Beth Mooney went to attack Ecclestone’s full, flighted delivery.
Mooney could only drive it straight at MacDonald-Gay, who dived forward to make up the ground, but the ball slipped through her fingers. It was another tough chance, but MacDonald-Gay will be disappointed given she made up the ground and got her hands to the ball, but could not finish the job.
68.3 overs: Mooney 11* dropped Ecclestone, bowled MacDonald-Gay, Australia 191-3
Roles reversed, same outcome. Having seen three dropped catches off her bowling, it was now Ecclestone’s turn to apologise. Mooney’s attempted cut off MacDonald-Gay’s back-of-a-length delivery went wrong when she top-edged the ball to Ecclestone’s left at slip.
The spinner did not have to move far to make up the ground, and got a strong left hand behind the ball, but was unable to seal the catch as the ball squirmed through her fingers. MacDonald-Gay’s unimpressed glance over her shoulder as Ecclestone lay on the floor summed up the day for England as Mooney once again survived.
70.6 overs: Mooney 18* dropped Bouchier, bowled MacDonald-Gay, Australia 211-3
For the third time in four overs, England squandered a golden chance to remove Mooney, and this one was the most straightforward one. The batter made a late decision to cut MacDonald-Gay’s delivery, but got it horribly wrong as she guided the ball straight to Maya Bouchier at gully.
Bouchier could not have been in a better position to take the catch as the ball flew at pace straight into her midriff. Somehow, the ball tumbled out of her waiting hands to the grass in front of her and England only had themselves to blame as Mooney subsequently capitalised.
Mooney wasted no time in making the most of her several lives, accelerating towards 98 not out by the end of the day.
98.4 overs: Gardner 12* dropped Ecclestone, bowled MacDonald-Gay, Australia 347-4
MacDonald-Gay became the second bowler to see three dropped catches off her bowling as Ecclestone put down another simple chance at first slip. Having taken the new ball at the 80-over mark, MacDonald-Gay managed to generate enough swing to take the ball away from Ashleigh Gardner, who flashed a bat at it and took an edge.
Again, Ecclestone did not have to move far, but the ball went straight through her waiting hands. Gardner would add another 32 runs on her way to 44.
111.3 overs: Gardner 36* dropped & bowled Filer, Australia 392-4
It might be harsh to call this a drop, but Filer still got close enough to the ball for it to be classified as a chance. Gardner looked to flick the ball off her pads but got a leading edge, as the ball looped over Filer’s head during her follow through.
She thrust an arm up to try and pluck the ball out of the air, but only got her fingertips to it, as Gardner breathed a sigh of relief. It was a tough chance, and not a particularly costly drop either, as Filer would take a catch to dismiss Gardner three overs later.
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