England v Cricket Australia XI day two: the story at stumps

Naomi Stalenberg hit a century in her hometown as Cricket Australia XI made England Women work hard on day two of their three-day warm-up match at Blacktown.

Resuming on 82-4 the hosts were dismissed for 271, 40 runs in front of England’s 231. Katherine Brunt was the pick of England’s bowlers in terms of wickets, picking up four, while there were two each for Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross, and one apiece for Laura Marsh and Anya Shrubsole.

England ended the day on 87-3, with captain Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver unbeaten at the crease. A lead of 47 sets up the final day for an exciting finish, weather permitting.

Stalenberg and Delissa Kimmince started the day aggressively, determined not to allow England’s bowlers to settle, and they found the boundary regularly. It was England’s leading wicket-taker yesterday, Katherine Brunt, who made the breakthrough, clean-bowling Kimmince for 16.

The next partnership continued to frustrate Heather Knight’s side as Sarah Aley – batting at No.7 – came together to join Stalenberg. The pair put on 43 over the next 14 overs with Stalenberg past 50 and increasingly comfortable at the crease.

England’s spinners were taking it in turns to wheel away from one end, accurate and probing, with the seamers rotating at the other end and it was Sophie Ecclestone who broke the partnership, sliding one on to Aley’s pads.

Captain Molly Strano joined Stalenberg and the tale of the day continued, as they defied England to put on 61 for the seventh wicket. Brunt returned to remove Strano, LBW, before Stalenberg moved to three figures. It was a fine innings from the Australian No.4

She wasn’t to last much longer, surviving a strong leg-before appeal from Anya Shrubsole before the same bowler returned with the new ball to see her caught at cover-point by Nat Sciver. The last two wickets fell to Kate Cross, who dismissed Pippa Cleary and Lauren Smith.

That meant England had 15 minutes to negotiate before the dinner interval and Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield survived unscathed.

Winfield, who made 82 in England’s first innings, couldn’t replicate that under the Blacktown lights. She was too early on a short ball from Tanya Vlaeminck and although she returned it with interest it was well taken by the bowler.

Captain Heather Knight was England’s No.3 and she put on 50 with Tammy Beaumont before Beaumont was given out leg-before for 24 to Alana King.

Georgia Elwiss was next in, still looking to nail down a place in the final XI for the Test match but unfortunately she was dismissed for 8, caught at short-leg off the bowling of Lauren Smith.

Sciver and Knight saw England through to stumps, 47 ahead and nicely poised ahead of the final day.

A full scorecard is available throughout the match. 

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