Knight and Marsh make history on day three of the Ashes
13th August 2013Heather Knight and Laura Marsh wrote their names into the record books as England posted 314 all out to trail by just 17 runs on first innings in the Women’s Ashes Test at Wormsley.
The seventh-wicket pair, extended their partnership to 156 before Knight was run out for 157. Marsh pressed on beyond tea and had faced 342 deliveries by the time she was ninth out, bowled by Megan Schutt for 55.
Knight’s knock represented the seventh-highest score for her country in Tests, while only Rachael Heyhoe-Flint and Janette Brittin have scored more for England against Australia. The Berkshire captain displayed fluency after passing three figures in the morning session and cracked 20 fours in her terrific 338-ball innings.
Marsh’s first four only arrived moments before Knight’s exit, from the 225th delivery the number eight had faced. After the partnership had been broken Sarah Coyte had Katherine Brunt lbw for four but more than 22 overs passed before another wicket fell with England eventually bowled out for 314.
Jenny Gunn claimed the lone wicket of Rachel Haynes at the start of the tourists second innings leaving Australia on 61-1 at stumps on day three.
Laura Marsh said: “I’m really pleased, I think when I went in we were pretty up against it. I was just really pleased to be able to hang in there with Heather and support her.
“It was the job the team needed and I tried to stick in there and be disciplined with my decision-making. It was really helpful to have Heather at the other end for the vast amount of the time I was there because she just played brilliantly and we kept each other going.
“I tried to be positive in defence and approach it that way and pick up runs when they became available.”