Litchfield had taken the wicketkeeping gloves for just one ball first thing in the morning as Australia rested their regular keeper and captain for this Tour, Alyssa Healy, after she suffered a knock to her finger the previous day. Healy did not bat in the second innings either and Beth Mooney, who would normally take over behind the stumps in Healy’s absence, was spared those duties after scoring a century in the first innings. Litchfield made an excellent fist of the assignment with a catch to remove last batter Sarah Glenn off the bowling of Georgia Wareham on the first ball of the day.
England A ended up on 562, a first-innings lead of 278 before Sutherland and Litchfield helped Australia to 361 for 7 at stumps. Tahlia McGrath made 44 batting at No. 4 while Mooney came in at No. 6 and was 35 not out in the second innings. With Healy wishing to drop down the order, Mooney is expected to open with Litchfield, who was delighted at the prospect after their successful pairing in the ODI series against Pakistan in January.
“Such a level head,” Litchfield said of Mooney. “Always knows what to say and an awesome human so it’s a pleasure to share the crease with her and she’s definitely doing good things for my batting.”
Litchfield, who added that she had a “whole circus” of family and friends heading to England to watch this tour, was also full of praise for allrounder Sutherland, who pressed her case for inclusion in the XI for the Test starting on Thursday.
“Class,” Litchfield said of Sutherland’s innings. “She looked so good out there and it was a real pleasure to watch form the other end for most of it and it was awesome for her to bring up three figures.”
England had taken a 390-run lead on the back of Tammy Beaumont’s double-century on the second day, but Jonassen – batting up the order at No. 4 – guided Australia A to 361 for 7 at the close, helped by Courtney Webb’s 79.
Seamer Lauren Bell was the pick of the England bowlers on the final day with 3 for 31, while Kate Cross, Issy Wong, Sophia Dunkley and newcomer Dani Gibson took one wicket each. Lauren Filer, the only other uncapped player named in England’s Test squad went wicketless for the match, bowling 19 overs across both innings.
