An overcast day offered more encouragement for the pace bowlers
England 38 for 2 trail Australia 337 for 9 dec by 299 runs
Australia made early inroads on an overcast second day in Canberra after Katherine Brunt had completed a five-wicket haul before the home side declared.
It was the third five-wicket bag of Brunt’s career as Australia could only add 10 runs to their overnight tally with Meg Lanning opting to call them in after Jess Jonassen departed.
Darcie Brown soon provided Australia’s breakthrough with her first Test wicket when she lured Lauren Winfield-Hill into a drive which was neatly held by Beth Mooney at second slip.
Ellyse Perry, during a seven-over opening spell, then found a way past Tammy Beaumont as the tactics of targeting the pads paid off when a delivery nipped back to beat the inside edge and take the back leg. Beaumont reviewed but it was three reds.
However, despite the two wickets Australia will probably consider they could have bowled better overall with the batters not made to play often enough. Brown bowled with good pace but was too wide either side of claiming her wicket while Tahlia McGrath did settle from either end across two spells and also had no-ball problems.
But in an encouraging sign for Australia before lunch, debutant legpsinner Alana King ripped her final delivery of the session past Heather Knight’s bat.
Australia had resumed on 327 for 7 after losing McGrath to the last delivery of the opening day and where tied down against the moving ball. Sutherland was removed by a fantastic delivery from Brunt which pitched middle and took the top of off stump before the England quick completing a fully deserved haul by taking Jonassen’s edge. That wicket also provided Amy Jones with a record-equalling sixth catch in the innings
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
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