Australia retain the Ashes with Taunton draw

England resumed on day four on 199/6, 221 runs behind Australia’s first innings total. Needing a win to keep the Ashes series alive, England faced an almighty task to force a result on the final day’s play.

Realistically, their most likely way of securing a victory would be to blast quick runs in the morning, bowl Australia out cheaply and then chase a target in quick time. Unfortunately for them, none of these three events took place.

Nat Sciver played superbly for 88 and was ably supported by Laura Marsh (28) and Katherine Brunt, who batted for 75 balls for her 15. Sophie Molineux, just 21 and making her Test debut, was arguably the player of the day. She finished with four first innings wickets before a quick-fire 41 helped her leave a significant mark on her first Test match.

England made the unconventional move of declaring while still trailing Australia in their attempt to turn the game around. Marsh removed both Australian openers in quick succession to leave the tourists 15/2 inside the first six overs. A glimmer of hope for England.

However, those two wickets brought Meg Lanning (21) and Ellyse Perry (76*) to the crease who calmed Australian nerves and made sure that Australia would seal the result they needed to retain the Ashes.

Perry had a brilliant match with the bat. Her 192 runs across the Test means that she has now scored 405 runs in her last two Test matches.

The draw means that Australia take an 8-2 lead going into the T20I leg of the series. While England can draw the series if they win all three T20Is, Australia have retained the Ashes by virtue of being the holders of the urn. The first T20I will take place at Chelmsford on July 26th.