Annabel Sutherland has become the youngest Australian woman to score a Test century in more than 30 years, after helping her team take charge against England.
Sutherland brought up her maiden Test ton just before lunch on day two of the Ashes Test, with Australia 8-439 and firmly in control of the match.
One of the sport’s rising stars in recent years, Sutherland has enjoyed her finest hour at Trent Bridge after going to lunch 116 not out.
After helping Australia stabalise from a minor collapse of 3-12 on Thursday evening, Sutherland has scored at close to a run a ball on Friday.
She has hit 15 boundaries in her knock, including the four through midwicket off England debutante Lauren Filer that brought up her ton.
At age 21, Sutherland is the youngest Australian since Belinda Clarke in 1991 to score a Test century.
She is also the third youngest Australian in history, with Julie Stockton the only other to do it at a younger age in 1979.
Sutherland’s hundred is the fastest by an Australian in women’s Test history, and also by a player walking out at No.8.
But there is no doubt the right-hander is capable of batting higher than that, with her second century in a row in red-ball games after also scoring 116 in a warm-up match against England A.
She has handled star spinner Sophie Ecclestone (3-110) superbly in Nottingham, not afraid to take her on when the chance presented itself while also playing the quicks nicely through the legside.
The only chance she offered before lunch came immediately after passing 100, when she slashed hard at a ball outside off and narrowly evaded Heather Knight in the slips.
Sutherland could also thank debutante Kim Garth for helping her get there, fighting through 56 balls to be 14 not out after Alana King also contributed 21.
A win in the five-day women’s Test would push Australia towards retention of the women’s Ashes, with the match worth four points before three ODIs and three T20s each worth two.
-AAP
