Postpublished at 11:35 BST 5 October 2024
Megan Schutt was right on the money at the start of the innings.
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by Mike Peter & Tim Oscroft
Megan Schutt was right on the money at the start of the innings.
Darcie Brown drags it back a bit and doesn't overstep again but her first over went for 10 runs.
It also took around seven minutes, which can't be much fun in near 40-degree heat.
Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds
This is going to be a minimum of a 10-ball over in 40 degree heat, good luck with that!
Darcie Brown no-balls again, and it's an even bigger one than the first. The free hit delivery is a horrible wide down leg that Alyssa Healy can only parry off to her left.
And the horror show continues as Brown oversteps again, Samarawickrama slashing the free hit past point for two.
Darcie Brown replaces Ash Gardner, but she oversteps by quite a margin off her first delivery. Harshita Samarawickrama makes her pay with a crunching four through the off side - Sri Lanka's first - off the free hit.
Henry Moeran
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds
It's always hard to fight back, when you know they've got you where they want you.
There's a bit of chirp from Alyssa Healy, who is still right up to the stumps as Megan Schutt continues. An ugly heave from Harshita Samarawickrama loops up off the pads, but much nicer is a drive past point but the slow outfield means Sri Lanka only get one.
Tash Farrant
England bowler on BBC Test Match Special
This is starting to feel ominous. It's a really nervous start from Sri Lanka. Normally Chamari Athapaththu has a real smooth flow with the bat, but she's almost put too much pressure on herself today. Sri Lanka haven't gone about things in the right way at all.
New batters Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari have the toughest of tests in front of them, and they need to show some intent to get this innings going.
Athapaththu lbw b Gardner 3
Hitting the back leg in front of leg stump, and the captain is out!
Sri Lanka already in all sorts of trouble.
The review is taking a while - hitting leg if anything, Gardner was coming around the wicket.
Tash Farrant
England bowler on BBC Test Match Special
Brilliant bowling from Megan Schutt, finding the in-swing she so often gets. She's right on the money. If there's any swing here, she will find it, though I'm not sure how long it will last here in Sharjah.
SL 6-1
Chamari Athapaththu misses a sweep, Gardner appeals but it's given not out. Australia review - what's this one doing?
Gunaratne lbw b Schutt 0
Hitting leg stump high up, and the opener is gone.
SL 6-0
Gunaratne is trapped in front by Schutt and it's given out - but Sri Lanka are reviewing.
Chamari Athapaththu gets the first runs off the bat past Tahlia McGrath at short third. Schutt then oversteps twice in successive balls but Gunaratne cannot take advantage of the free hits
Tash Farrant
England bowler on BBC Test Match Special
The Sri Lanka batters look nervous. They need to try and put a little bit of pressure on Australia's excellent bowlers; their bowlers just keep coming at you. They need to be clever, the openers. It will be much better for left-hand Chamari Athapaththu to face right-hand Ash Gardner.
Gardner's round the wicket approach keeps Chamari Athapaththu tied down until a leg bye gets Sri Lanka off the mark after 11 deliveries.
The final ball of the over zips past Gunaratne's outside edge, Australia are already taking a grip.
Henry Moeran
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds
There's always an added sense of intimidation when you're playing Australia for sure, and Sri Lanka will be feeling that today.
Alyssa Healy is already up to the stumps as Schutt wobbles the ball around, inducing an edge off Gunaratne's outside edge that drops short of short third.
It's a maiden to start with, the pressure's already on and the spin of Ash Gardner will be next.