Women’s Ashes evenly poised at Stumps on Day 2 as Heather Knight shines with the bat

It was another impressive day out for a Royal Challengers represent in the ongoing Women’s Ashes as Heather Knight, the England skipper, carved a well-fought half-century to help England steer to a humdinger turnaround after Australia put up a formidable 473 in their first innings.

Heather Knight walked out to bat at No.3 in the team in trouble, and the England captain steered the team out of choppy waters, playing the perfect two-to-tango in what was an incredible display from another centurion, Tammy Beaumont.

Knight’s first runs off the blade came off Kim Garth’s bowling, with the England skipper scoring a beautiful boundary through the cover region. The right-hander brought up her fifty off 85 balls, and throughout the innings, entertained with an array of strokes, highlighted by a couple of reverse sweeps that sped away to the boundary cushions. 

Although Knight was dismissed for 57, riding on her knock and a special partnership with Beaumont, England finished the day on 218/2, trailing by 255 runs with three whole days of play to come. 

Earlier, starting Day two at 328/7, Australia piled up 473 at the end of their first innings, courtesy of a thumping ton from Annabel Sutherland who would stay unbeaten for 137.