Pink Ball Test: Darcie Brown Shatters Maia Bouchier’s Middle Stump on Third Day of the Match
The third day of the first Women’s Ashes test match between Australia and England has been a thrilling and eventful one, with Darcie Brown’s impressive bowling spell helping the host team to gain the upper hand. The 23-year-old left-arm fast bowler took four wickets, including the prized scalp of in-form batter Maia Bouchier, as Australia inched closer to a dominating victory.
Resuming their innings on 274-5, England faced a stern challenge from the Australian pace duo of Brown and Megan Schutt. The pair proved to be too hot to handle, with Bouchier, who had been looking ominous, falling prey to Brown’s incredible skill. The 23-year-old pace bowler who had been building up pace and angle all morning, eventually found the perfect delivery, which split the stumps, sending Bouchier packing for 53.
The crowd was left in awe of the delivery, which was adjudged by many to be the best ball of the series so far. Brown’s ability to find that perfect length, combined with her ability to get the ball to seam and reverse, proved too great for the English top-order to handle. Her four wickets, including the crucial one of Bouchier, have put Australia in the driving seat, with England struggling at 286-9.
Brown’s performance was a Carbon copy of her previous outing at the venue, where she took seven wickets and helped Australia win the series-opener earlier this year. Schutt, who has been a thorn in the flesh for English batswomen throughout the series, complemented Brown’s effort with two wickets of her own.
Captain Alyssa Healy’s decision to use her pace bowlers to great effect has been a masterstroke, with the pair causing chaos on a wicket that has thus far offered something for both batsmen and bowlers. England coach, Lisa Keightley, would have to came out with a different game plan to get her team back into the contest, something that would require more aggressive batting and smart leadership.
"This is what we had planned for, to get the batters to get get in and try to take advantage of the opportunities, and it worked out well for us," said Healy in her post-day press conference. "The way Darcie went about her business, it was almost like having an extra batsman on the field, and Schutt was also getting a lot of success, and the two of them together, it was a dream combination for us."
For Bouchier, her dismissal was a gut-wrenching moment, and she would be hoping to redeem herself in the remaining overs with the bat. However, the fact remains, her side finds themselves facing a daunting task, and their only hope would be to bat long enough to stave off an inevitable loss.
As the day concluded, Justin Langer’s side was ready to pounce, knowing that the skys the limit when it comes to their leading bowlers. With bowling reserves like Jess Jonassen and Sophie Molineux available, they would be aiming to deliver the knockout blow to their English counterparts.
For now, it is Australia who are in the driver’s seat, and their fans would be eagerly waiting to witness the end of this thrilling contest. The fourth day’s play promises to be as intriguing as the first three, with the prospect of fireworks galore, unlike the pink ball test on offer.
