Summary

Live Reporting

by Sam Drury & Timothy Abraham

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    Benjamin Watts: Got to feel for Ryana MacDonald-Gay today. Three dropped catches off her bowling. Deserved more reward for pitching it up, swinging the ball and creating chances.

  2. Aus 413-5

    Lead by 243

    Nailed through the covers for four by Tahlia McGrath.

    She seized on that flighted delivery from Sophie Ecclestone and powered it to the boundary.

  3. These gulls are swarming the MCG now.

    GullsGetty Images

  4. Aus 408-5

    Mooney 91, McGrath 2

    Australia vice-captain Tahlia McGrath is in at seven and Ellyse Perry is still to bat.

    England might have taken another wicket but their work in the field is still far from done.

    Wait a minute... that's not another drop is it? McGrath nails a drive and it does hang in the air, perhaps just carrying to Nat Sciver-Brunt at cover before bursting through.

    Feels harsh to call it a drop. A half-chance maybe?

  5. Michelle Goszko
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    FilerGetty Images

    Ash Gardner tried to turn that behind square leg, it ballooned up in the air but Lauren Filer almost misses it. Late in the day they get one.

    Sophie Ecclestone looks exhausted, she couldn't even celebrate that one.

  6. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    Lauren Filer with, not safe hands, just hands.

  7. wicket

    WICKET

    Gardner c Filer b Ecclestone 44 (Aus 405-5)

    England have taken a catch! I repeat, England have taken a catch!

    It is about as simple a chance as you'll see as Ash Gardner goes back to Sophie Ecclestone and gets a leading edge that loops gently into the leg side.

    Lauren Filer comes in from square leg, loses her footing but holds onto the catch. Only just, mind. It very, very nearly slipped out of her grasp.

  8. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    The gulls all rise in celebration of Australia's 400.

  9. Aus 402-4

    Lead by 232

    Ash Gardner uppercuts Lauren Filer superbly for four to take Australia to 400.

    The record-breaking crowd at the MCG enjoy that. They're going to soak up every last bit of Australia's domination in the last 20 minutes or so of the day.

  10. Michelle Goszko
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    This Ashes series has been well supported around the country.

  11. World record attendance
    Breaking

    MCGGetty Images

    The final attendance for day two of the Women’s Ashes Test at the MCG is 11,918. This takes the total crowd to 23,561, a world record attendance for any women's Test match.

    This surpasses the previous mark of 23,207 in the last Ashes series at Trent Bridge in 2023.

    We can't even keep our crowd records now. The Aussies want everything.

  12. Aus 395-4

    Lead by 225

    We're into the extra half hour at the end of the day so the end is in sight for England... until tomorrow.

    It has been a long, tough day for the tourists.

  13. Aus 392-4

    Lead by 222

    Good over from Lauren Filer, just a leg bye from it... but yet another chance goes down for England.

    Seven out and out drops, plus a chance for Sophia Dunkley early in the day when she didn't get her hands to the ball in the deep.

    Miss that many opportunities against this Australia side and this is what will happen.

  14. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    FilerGetty Images

    Another one goes down. That one was a tough chance, it was just out of reach for Lauren Filer.

  15. dropped catch

    Gardner dropped on 36

    Aus 392-4

    Unlucky number seven for England...

    In Lauren Filer's defence, that would have been a brilliant catch as she had to change direction in her follow-through.

    She gets the leading edge from Ash Gardner, the ball loops back towards her but Filer can't hold on despite getting a hand to it as she flung herself to her right.

  16. Aus 391-4

    Lead by 221

    Sophie Ecclestone is perhaps showing signs of tiredness - no surprise given she's bowled more than 30 overs today in the Melbourne heat - as drags a couple of deliveries down.

    Each one only costs a single with Beth Mooney's taking her to a Test-best 86 not out. Nice milestone but she'll have her sights firmly on a maiden hundred.

  17. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    Cricviz analyst

    GardnerGetty Images

    Australia's lead is currently at 219 and counting, climbing up the charts of the highest lead a team has taken at the end of the second innings in a Women's Ashes Test.

    Highest lead at the end of the second innings in a Women's Ashes Test

    • 245 - Australia v England, The Oval, Jul 1976
    • 241 - Australia v England, Shenley, Jun 2001
    • 239 - Australia v England, Leeds, Jul 2001
    • 219 - Australia v England, MCG, Jan 2025

  18. Aus 389-4

    Lead by 219

    Lauren Bell draws a play and miss from Beth Mooney with a full ball just outside off.

    It shapes away from the left-hander, too, but just misses the outside edge.

  19. Aus 387-4

    Lead by 217

    Four singles from Sophie Ecclestone's latest as Australia continue to tick over.

    No sign that a declaration in imminent and with about 40 minutes left in the day, that likely means we won't see one.

    Meanwhile, the crowd at the MCG are being entertained by the antics of a young lad making the most of his appearance on the big screen while eating an ice cream.

  20. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    If Australia can lead by 500, I don't see why they shouldn't declare.