Tammy Beaumont hits maiden century as England fight back against Australia in Women's Ashes Test

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England opener Tammy Beaumont hit a maiden century to help the hosts fight back on the second day of the Women's Ashes Test against Australia. </p>

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Beaumont rode her luck but a fine 100 not out lifted England to 218 for two at stumps, sharing a 115 stand with captain Heather Knight, who made a composed 57, after Australia had posted a formidable total of 473. </p>

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Sophie Ecclestone claimed a maiden Test five-for, a fitting reward after 46.2 overs of exertion as she took the onus with Nat Sciver-Brunt unable to fulfil her bowling duties due to a jarred right knee. </p>

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England's premier all-rounder fielded then batted, showing no sign of the minor injury with a fluent 41 not out, although her omission from bowling was understood to be precautionary at the outset of this multi-format series. </p>

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Her unavailability meant an increased workload for her team-mates as England sought to wrap up the lower order and restrict their opponents to under 350 at Trent Bridge, but Sutherland seized upon the hosts being a bowler light on a flat pitch as Australia added 235 for the last four wickets. </p>

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Sutherland's highest score in 33 previous internationals was 35 but she capitalised on England's aching limbs - they were kept in the field for 124.2 overs - to record the fastest Test ton by an Australian woman off only 148 balls. </p>

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There was no keeping her out of the game as she also bagged a wicket after showcasing the enviable depth of Australia's batting pool with the highest score by a number eight in women's Tests. </p>

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She lost Alana King, who was bowled through the gate for 21 by a hooping Lauren Bell inswinger once Sutherland had taken her 39 in Australia's overnight 328 for seven to a first international fifty. </p>

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The debuting Lauren Filer bristled with intent and beat the bat on a couple of occasions but the seamers were largely innocuous and Sutherland even set after the more frugal Ecclestone upon her introduction after 40 minutes, having bowled a mammoth 31 overs on Thursday - 28 of them in a row. </p>

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While she held up an end, Ireland-born Kim Garth was a capable foil on her Test bow for the expansive Sutherland, who went through the gears and required only 48 balls to bring up a second 50, reaching a maiden ton in her third match in this format with a clip through midwicket off Filer for a 12th four. </p>

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That was the first of three fours in the over, the third out of Knight's reach in the slips, and Sutherland continued to churn out the runs after lunch with a mighty heave for Australia's first six. </p>

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However, she ran out of partners as Ecclestone rapped Garth (22) on the back pad after skidding through her defences, ending a 95-run stand for the penultimate wicket which had carried Australia past 450, before taking a sharp caught and bowled off Darcie Brown in the spinner's 16th consecutive over. </p>

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While Ecclestone, who finished with 46.2-9-129-5, bore the brunt of Sciver-Brunt's absence from the attack, Kate Cross racked up 29 overs, with Filer bowling 22 and Bell 20 as Australia's registered the sixth-highest total in Women's Tests. </p>

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England amassed 650 in 118.2 overs in a warm-up against Australia A last week, with Beaumont notching a rollicking double century, but the situation in Nottingham initially demanded a pragmatic approach. </p>

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Beaumont had a life on four as a diving Phoebe Litchfield was unable to hang on to what would have been a screamer but fellow opener Emma Lamb was not so fortunate after Sutherland was brought on. Seduced into a drive, Lamb merely edged low to second slip on 10. </p>

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Beaumont, though, punished Australia's seamers when they over-pitched with a few lusty drives and two full tosses from Sutherland and one from Ellyse Perry were given the treatment. </p>

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While Knight started confidently, Beaumont had a couple of moments of luck after going past 50 against leg-spinner King, who found the inside edge twice - with the first ballooning over the short leg fielder and the second thumping into the boot being before caught but Australia neglected to review. </p>

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Knight joined Beaumont in passing an untroubled 50 but was undone by a hint of turn and bounce from Ashleigh Gardner and nicked off. </p>

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But Sciver-Brunt got off nought with an authoritative drive off Gardner for the first of seven fours as she upped the ante. </p>

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Beaumont moved into the 90s with an edge off Gardner that dropped short and wide of Jess Jonassen before bringing up her hundred with a clip off her hip for a couple in the penultimate over of the day. </p>

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In doing so, Beaumont became just the second woman - after Knight - to score a hundred in all three international formats. </p>

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