Perth, Australia – Annabel Sutherland’s blistering century and a record-breaking performance from Ellyse Perry have put Australia in a commanding position against India in their Women’s Test match at the WACA Ground. Sutherland became the fastest player to four Test centuries, while Perry surpassed Karen Rolton to grow Australia’s all-time leading run scorer in women’s Test cricket, reaching a milestone of 1,006 runs.
Resuming play at 96-3, Australia trailed by 102 runs, but a crucial 133-run partnership between Sutherland and Perry shifted the momentum decisively. The hosts are now firmly in control, aiming to capitalize on their advantage as the match progresses. This pink-ball clash is also Alyssa Healy’s international farewell, adding an emotional layer to the contest.
Sutherland continued her impressive form, building on her overnight score of 20 to reach 129 off 171 balls, punctuated by 17 boundaries. Her innings showcased a masterful blend of power and finesse, putting immense pressure on the Indian bowling attack. Beth Mooney provided valuable support, grinding out 19 runs off 53 deliveries, helping Australia grab the lead.
The day belonged to Perry, however, as she etched her name further into Australian cricket folklore. The all-rounder, returning from a quad strain that saw her miss the preceding ODIs, reached the historic milestone of 1,000 Test runs, eventually surpassing Karen Rolton’s long-standing record of 1,002. Cricket.com.au reports that Perry achieved this feat with a single, followed by a four down the ground. She was eventually dismissed for 76 off 116 balls by Deepti Sharma, missing out on a third Test century.
India struggled to contain the Australian batting lineup, with Deepti Sharma claiming two crucial wickets – Perry and Sutherland – but the damage had already been done. Australia finished their first innings at 323, establishing a significant lead of 125 runs. 7news.com.au detailed the challenging conditions, with temperatures reaching 40C in Perth.
Indian Batting Falters Under Lights
The Indian response began poorly, slipping to 10-2 under the lights. Sutherland further compounded their woes, dismissing key batters Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, leaving India reeling at 64-4. Debutant Lucy Hamilton then made an immediate impact, removing Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh in quick succession, reducing India to 82-6. Hamilton’s impressive performance on her Test debut showcased Australia’s bowling depth.
Despite the mounting pressure, Pratika Rawal and Sneh Rana offered some resistance, with Rawal remaining unbeaten on 43 and Rana on 14. Their partnership ensured the Test match will extend into a third day, but India still trails significantly and faces a daunting task to salvage a result. Yahoo News Australia highlighted the challenging surface and India’s struggle to cope with the conditions.
Perry’s achievement places her 10th on the all-time list of women’s Test run scorers, a list historically dominated by English players. Notably, Perry is the only woman to have surpassed 1,000 runs and taken more than 30 wickets in the format, underlining her all-round brilliance.
With a substantial lead and a weary Indian batting lineup, Australia is poised to push for victory on the final days of the Test. The focus will be on exploiting the conditions and capitalizing on their momentum to secure a comprehensive win in Alyssa Healy’s farewell match.
What comes next will be crucial for India, needing a monumental effort to avoid an innings defeat. Australia will look to build on their strong position and close out the match decisively. Share your thoughts on this exciting Test match in the comments below!
