Aussie’s record-shattering feat before Indian star’s ugly brain fade as 19yo quick wreaks havoc

Australia is on the verge of a commanding victory in the women’s Test against India at the WACA after Annabel Sutherland sealed her legacy as one of the sport’s modern greats with another impressive hundred.

The Victorian all-rounder became the first Australian woman to score four Test hundreds before snaring two crucial scalps with the pink Kookaburra under floodlights to put the hosts within touching distance of victory. The 171-ball 129 was her third-consecutive Test century, following hundreds against South Africa at the same venue in 2024 and against England at the MCG last year, becoming the first women to achieve the feat.

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“It’s hard to put into words, she’s such a special player,” newly-appointed Australian captain Sophie Molineux told Channel Seven.

“What she’s been able to achieve in the game already, she’s only 24 years old.

“Amazing head on her shoulders ... she’s always thinking about the game and how she can improve, and the big part about Belsy, she’s really put in a lot of work and effort into how she could help others improve as well.”

India was 6-105 at stumps on day two, still trailing by 20 runs, with Pratika Rawal unbeaten on 43 after debutant Lucy Hamilton ripped through the top order during the evening session with three wickets.

Resuming on Saturday afternoon at 3-96, Sutherland and veteran teammate Ellyse Perry combined for a 128-run partnership for the fourth wicket to hand Australia the ascendancy.

The 35-year-old Perry cracked a 116-ball 76, her first Test fifty in three years, to surpass the legendary Karen Rolton as Australia’s leading run-scorer in the format.

Following her dismissal, trapped on the pads by spinner Deepti Sharma, Sutherland equalled the all-time record for fastest player to four Test hundreds alongside Neil Harvey’s ten innings. The 24-year-old, who survived a scare on 90 when wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh put down a tough chance down leg side, currently averages 89.37 in Tests.

“Test matches don’t come around too often,” Sutherland said at stumps.

“We don’t get to do it very often, and I just love being out there, to be honest, and spending time building partnerships.

“Technically it probably suits my game, and then just the patience side of things is something I’ve always had growing up, just being able to switch on and off and make the right decisions.”

She continued: “I don’t look at stats too much, to be honest ... it’s probably one that I’ll look back on (after I retire).

“We don’t play Tests very often, so it’s more about trying to be in the moment, I think that’s when I play my best cricket and when our team plays our best cricket as well.”

After Sharma ended her classy knock, Beth Mooney’s dismissal prompted a brief collapse of

4-37, with Alana King (21 off 38 balls) and Hamilton (23 off 54 balls) providing some lower-order resistance before Australia was bowled out for 323, securing a 125-run first-innings lead. Indian debutant Sayali Satghare finished with 4-50 from 18.4 overs.

Birthday girl Darcie Brown struck with the second delivery of India’s innings, knocking over the dangerous Smriti Mandhana for 2 before Hamilton and Sutherland wreaked havoc with the pink ball.

An ill-judged lap shot from Jemimah Rodrigues ballooned delicately towards wicketkeeper Mooney, gone for 14, before Hamilton toppled Sharma with an unplayable in-ducker that crashed into the pegs.

Sutherland, who also took four wickets in the first innings, boasted figures of 2-15 from six overs in an all-round masterclass, while Hamilton had 3-32 from eight overs,

India needs a further 20 runs to make Australia bat again, while it’s unclear whether the retiring Alyssa Healy will get an opportunity to bat in the second innings.

The women’s Test between Australia and India at the WACA on Sunday at 4.20pm AEDT. The tourists need nothing less than a victory to draw the multi-format series, which Australia currently leads 8-4.

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