AUSW v ENGW: Lanning, Haynes shine on first day of women’s ashes testing

Australia came into a strong position on the first day of the Ashes Test against England in Canberra on Thursday, with Captain Meg Lanning and southpaw Rachel Haynes in the fourth wicket A partnership of 169 people was established.

Lanning (93) came just shy of her maiden Test century, while Haynes shot an 86 and Australia made the cut to 327 with a 7 on the stumps at the Manuka Oval. Tahlia McGrath (52) trailed speed bowler Nat Sciver in the last ball of the day.

Lanning was knocked out before she strayed off target and then on the 14th England captain Heather Knight slipped a regular chance for the first time in the final game before lunch. Knight later got a bigger chance from Sciver, eventually packing Lanning. Haynes went down four balls later to catch up for a good distance when Katherine Brunt sent in a fiery ball.

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“Sometimes you just get a good delivery…that’s cricket,” Haynes said. “Not an ideal start. At that time, it was very important to have a good relationship with Meg.”

Knight won the pitch and opted for the bowling, a decision that looked good early on when the visitors batted twice in the first four rounds to make the home team 4-2. England’s Sciver (3-for-41) and Brunt (3-for-52) took three wickets each.

The multi-format Women’s Ashes series includes three Twenty20s, one Test and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Current holders Australia are 4-2 on points and can keep the Ashes if it wins the Test.