Rain halts England's fightback on day three

SCORECARD

After a poor start from the England batters on Day 2, it was Heather Knight who played the finest knock of her career to reach 127 at stumps. England, with only 2 wickets in hand and trailing by 102 runs, started Day 3 with Knight and Sophie Ecclestone coming out to bat.

There was no shortage of drama as Ecclestone was dropped by Lanning in slips in the first over of the day. Knight continued her fine form on Day 3, and began the day with a stunning cover drive. The batters did find it difficult to settle in the middle at the start but after spending some time at the crease, both of them managed to rotate the strike pretty well.

It was not too long before Knight completed her second 150 in Test cricket. Ecclestone, who was on 33, was dropped once again by Lanning in the slips off Tahlia McGrath.

The ninth wicket record partnership between Knight and Ecclestone extended to 100, a record partnership for England.

Australia finally broke the partnership through Tahlia McGrath, who got one to straighten and rapped Ecclestone on the pads. Kate Cross came out to bat and slowly started building a much-needed partnership with Knight.

Knight immediately started showing some aggression with the bat and continued to close the gap to Australia’s total. Cross, who was finding it difficult to settle down, edged a cut shot off Alanna King but was dropped by Healy behind the wickets.

Cross somehow managed to find two boundaries but a short ball by Perry did the trick. Cross top-edged the short ball straight into the hands of the fielder at the backward square and England ended their first innings at 297 with Knight remaining unbeaten on a career-best score of 168.

With the first-innings lead of 40 runs, Australian openers Haynes and Healy came out to bat, but Katherine Brunt, who took a five-for in the first innings, once again got rid of Healy in the first over of the innings, as Healy edged one to the keeper.

Just before lunch, Haynes too was back in the hut, courtesy inswinger that induced a bat-pad and went directly into the hands of Beaumont at forward short leg. Ellyse Perry walked out to the crease and faced only one ball before rain stopped play at the stroke of lunch.

A brilliant fightback was halted by rain in Canberra which eventually refused to go away after lunch and Day 3 ended with Australia at 12 for 2 at the start of their second innings.