Lauren Filer made a crucial double breakthrough for England but Australia stretched their lead to 167 in the one-off Women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

Cross atoned for dropping Phoebe Litchfield minutes into the fourth morning by uprooting the off-stump of the Australia opener, out leaving for the second time in the match on her Test bow.

England debutant Filer, meanwhile, accounted for the highly-rated Ellyse Perry and then took out the leg stump of Tahlia McGrath, but Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 73 helped to lift Australia to 157 for three.

Mooney put on 99 with Litchfield (46) and 50 with Perry (25) and was the beneficiary of being dropped on 55 as Nat Sciver-Brunt, having only bowled five overs in the first innings before a sore knee, spilled a difficult return catch with her first delivery in Australia’s second dig.

Despite Tammy Beaumont’s historic double century on Saturday, Australia had edged ahead through Mooney and Litchfield, who outlined her intentions on the penultimate morning with an uppish drive at Sophie Ecclestone. She was reprieved after Cross spilled a simple waist-high chance at extra cover.

Cross required strapping on her left thumb but was able to continue bowling, and the England seamer’s drop proved not to be too costly as she got a delivery to jag back alarmingly towards Litchfield, who offered no shot and lost her off stump.

There was movement and spin in sunny and blustery conditions but England were largely unable to take advantage. Mooney offered a sharp caught and bowled chance after passing 50 but Sciver-Brunt could not cling on in her follow-through despite getting both hands to the ball.

Heather Knight’s off-spin drew the outside edge of Perry on 21 but the ball flew between wicketkeeper and slip, but the talismanic Australia all-rounder’s luck ran out soon after as, leaning back and shaping to cut, she merely inside edged on to her stumps.

Cheered on by the Nottingham crowd, Filer struck in her next over as a fuller, pacy delivery proved too much for McGrath, whose leg stump was flattened, in a second successive wicket maiden for the England youngster.

James Anderson expects England to double down on their aggressive brand of cricket despite defeat in the opening Ashes Test earlier this week.

Debates over the wisdom of ‘Bazball’ returned in earnest after England lost a tense series opener by two wickets at Edgbaston, having declared in the first innings on 393 for eight.

But Anderson, 40, said England and captain Ben Stokes will only look to push things in one direction when the series resumes at Lord’s on Wednesday.

“I think we’ll go more positive, more aggressive, more entertaining,” the veteran paceman said. “We want to try and make sure people go home happy as they did each day at Edgbaston.

“Just because we’re 1-0 down I don’t think we’ll try anything different. I think we showed enough last week to show we can win the next four if we keep playing like that and iron a few things out. We’ll go exactly the same.”

Anderson was speaking as he swapped Bazball for baseball at the London Stadium on Saturday. As the Chicago Cubs and St Louis Cardinals faced off in the first of two regular-season games in Stratford this weekend, Anderson threw out the ceremonial first pitch alongside Australia rival Nathan Lyon.

Anderson’s daughter had spent their journey down from Manchester showing him videos of the 10 worst ceremonial pitches in history but he managed to get his over the plate.

Anderson admitted he had not practiced the pitch, but he believes cricket is learning a lot from the American past time – particularly when it comes to more aggressive hitting.

“I think you see the way cricket has developed, the way guys try to hit the ball, I think they take a lot from the guys here,” he said.

“I don’t know how much knowledge there is about cricket in America, I don’t think the baseball players are trying to block anything, but for me I’ve always watched the fielding and thought it was something we could do better.

“The speed they get to the ball, the speed they release the ball and the speed of the throw. I know it’s a different ball but I think it’s something we could learn from.”

The baseball gave both Anderson and Lyon a bit of mental relief after the stresses of Edgbaston, where the game remained in the balance until the very end.

Lyon said throwing the first pitch was the first time he had picked up a ball since leaving Birmingham as he tried to get away from what he called a “mental rollercoaster”.

But with a 1-0 lead in the series, the Australians are understandably in buoyant mood.

“It was an absolutely incredible Test win and to be able to play a part in that was extremely special,” the 35-year-old spinner said. “It is going to go down as one of the best Test matches I’ve played in.

“The mood has changed. There’s a lot of work we need to do. We feel like we can still get a lot better, and we need to get a lot better if we want to compete against England and the brand of cricket they’re playing.

“It’s business as usual for us. We can’t control what they’re doing. We’ll sit down as a team and identify areas where we can be better and where we believe we need to get better, so just focus on what we can do.

“There’s no point worrying about what everybody else is doing.”

Tammy Beaumont believes her historic 208 in the lone Women’s Ashes Test may have been inadvertently aided by being axed from England’s T20 set-up last year.

After breaking Betty Snowball’s 88-year record for the highest score by an England woman in going past 189, Beaumont became her nation’s first double centurion and just the eighth female overall in Tests.

Her epic knock – which helped England to 463 and a 10-run deficit before Australia got their noses in front by closing on 82 without loss to lead by 92 at Trent Bridge – raised the question as to whether Beaumont can slot back into the T20 side after being dropped ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

While Beaumont was coy at the suggestion, the England opener, who has featured in 99 T20 internationals, admitted being discarded led to her working hard to seek advancements in her batting.

“It’s certainly not been on my mind in the last three or four days, Test match cricket is very different to T20 cricket – even though the England men try to make it look pretty similar,” she joked.

“How I’ve worked this winter on my game, that probably has had an impact on me trying to find that motivation to get better and improve.

“I’ve worked on trying to not get hit on the front pad so much and get out lbw. That came about from trying to be more aggressive in the T20 game and access midwicket and because of that, I’m defending the ball better.

“In an indirect way, it’s definitely played a part but it’s also reminded me that I’ve got a lot of cricket left that I want to play for England. Whether that’s in T20 cricket or not, who knows?”

Beaumont, who batted for more than eight hours across two days and struck 27 fours, revealed she was unaware she had eclipsed Snowball’s innings against New Zealand in Christchurch in February 1935.

“No, not at all,” she said. “I think when I hit the ball, it was announced and Sophie Ecclestone was desperate to give me a hug. But I was like ‘no, no, the job’s not done here’, so I just sent her away.

“I guess I was in the zone and I wasn’t thinking about records. I’d been really calm and tried to not show any emotion for two days but when I hit that run (to get to 200), it all came out.

“If you’re going to score 200 for England, you might as well celebrate it properly.”

England’s seamers were leggy and wayward at the outset of Australia’s second innings, with Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield putting on a 50-stand in just 55 balls as boundaries proved easy to come by.

With an enviable pool of batting talent to come – Annabel Sutherland scored a century from number eight first time around – Australia are already flying in a Test that is effectively a one-innings shootout.

Beaumont, though, feels England will be seeking to disrupt their progress on what remains a flat pitch at the start of the penultimate day.

“We’ve got to come out fighting and knock a few over,” she said. “Whoever comes out and seizes the moment in the morning and early afternoon session will be the one in charge.”

One prospect is Australia trying to bat England out of the game then declare ahead of or early into day five but Beaumont insisted that scenario would not be followed by the hosts just going for a draw, with captain Heather Knight and head coach Jon Lewis having emphasised an attacking approach this summer.

“It’s still a good track to bat on,” she said. “There are plenty of runs out there to get and we want to push ourselves and we want to try and get a result, no one came here for a draw.

“If they set us a target I have a feeling we’ll be giving it a good old crack.”

Off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner, who was the pick of the Australia bowling attack with four for 99, was adamant the tourists do not have a total in mind before declaring.

“I would certainly say there’s probably going to be a result and that’s what we’re going to be pushing for,” she said. “But I don’t think there’s a real target in mind that we’ve spoken about as a group.”

Tammy Beaumont’s historic 208 underpinned England’s highest-ever Test total against Australia to set up what is effectively a one-innings shootout in this Women’s Ashes series opener.

After breaking Betty Snowball’s 88-year record for the highest score by an England woman in going past 189, Beaumont became her nation’s first double centurion and just the eighth female overall in Tests.

Her epic knock lasted more than eight hours across two days and included 27 fours before she was bowled after missing a sweep at Ashleigh Gardner, last out to abruptly end England’s first-innings on 463.

England lost their last four wickets for just 15 runs as Australia held a lead of 10 at the halfway mark of a contest that starts the multi-format series, which they upped to 92 after closing on 82 without loss to get their noses in front at stumps on day three.

But this one-off Test still being in the balance is largely thanks to the excellence of Beaumont, who made 201 in a warm-up against Australia A last week and registered her maiden Test ton on Friday.

Beaumont had a couple of let-offs in reaching three figures but was seldom troubled when she resumed on 100 on Saturday, her only scare coming on 152 as she overturned an lbw verdict against her after leg-spinner Alana King’s delivery was found to have fractionally pitched outside leg stump at Trent Bridge.

She settled by driving, steering then pulling Darcie Brown for three fours in an over as she and Nat Sciver-Brunt continued to pile up the runs. Sciver-Brunt might have been dismissed without adding to her overnight 41 after missing a flick at Brown and being given lbw, but she reversed the decision.

Australia’s seamers initially struggled on a flat deck so it was a surprise they waited 75 minutes into the opening session to turn to the spin of Gardner, who dashed Sciver-Brunt’s hopes of following Beaumont to a hundred when the all-rounder leaned back to cut but got a thick edge to Alyssa Healy.

Sciver-Brunt’s dismissal for 78 ended a freeflowing 137-run stand in just 187 balls with Beaumont that relied on timing and orthodoxy.

Sophia Dunkley, though, was unable to get going and the pressure told, dismissed for nine off 51 balls after lunch when she missed an uncontrolled heave at Gardner to lose her off-stump.

Having passed 150, Beaumont might have followed after missing a sweep at King as she was rapped on the front pad. Replays did not look promising but DRS was marginally in her favour.

With Gardner putting the squeeze on alongside King then slow left-armer Jess Jonassen as Australia declined to take the second new ball until the end of the 99th over, Beaumont used the sweep and moved her feet well to keep ticking over, helped by a quickfire cameo 44 on Test debut by Danni Wyatt.

Selected because of her proficiency against the slow bowlers and for her attacking nature that captain Heather Knight and head coach Jon Lewis want the England side to adopt, Wyatt fulfilled her brief with some fine drives, pulls and a couple of scoops as she drew on her considerable white-ball experience.

She edged Brown when the seamers returned while Amy Jones came and went once England had moved past 400 after tamely lofting to mid-on, but Beaumont remained and a cute late cut off Perry for four before tea saw her eclipse Snowball’s storied innings against New Zealand in Christchurch in February 1935.

From then on, she relied on singles to inch closer to 200 and got over the line in the final session after clipping Australia’s first-innings centurion Annabel Sutherland for one into the leg-side before taking off her helmet, raising her bat and soaking up the applause from a bumper crowd.

However, she was fast running out of partners as Tahlia McGrath – Australia’s eighth bowler in England’s innings – had Sophie Ecclestone lbw with a yorker, castled Kate Cross when she played down the wrong line before Lauren Filer nicked off.

While Australia added 235 for their last four wickets, England slumped in a hurry as Beaumont was finally dismissed from her 331st ball – for the fifth highest score in women’s Tests of all-time – in the search for quick runs to give impressive off-spinner Gardner figures of four for 99.

England’s seamers were leggy and expensive – having bowled 124.2 overs in the first innings – at the outset of Australia’s second dig, with Beth Mooney (33 not out) and Phoebe Litchfield (41no) putting on 50 in 55 balls.

A tough, low return chance when Litchfield was on 10 burst through Cross’ hands but Australia’s openers were otherwise untroubled. Slow left-armer Ecclestone was tight while Sciver-Brunt’s continued bowling absence because of a knee knock meant Knight turned her arm over for a couple of overs.

All-rounder Sikandar Raza was, once again, the star of the show as hosts Zimbabwe beat the West Indies by 35 runs to move to 3-0 in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers and hand the West Indies their first loss in six ODIs.

The hosts posted 268 all out from their 50 overs after the West Indies won the toss and elected to field first at the Harare Sports Club.

After a 63-run opening stand between Joylord Gumbie and Captain, Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe quickly lost four wickets for 49 runs to be reeling at 112-4 at the halfway point of their innings.

Half centuries from Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl then rescued Zimbabwe from what looked to be a spot of bother.

Raza, coming off a century against the Netherlands in their last game, led the way with a 58-ball 68 including six fours and two sixes while Burl made an even 50 off 57 balls including five fours and a six.

Earlier, Ervine made 47 while Gumbie scored 26.

The Zimbabweans were helped by the West Indies dropping five catches. Raza was dropped three times.

Keemo Paul led the way with the ball for the West Indians with 3-61 from his 10 overs while Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph both took a pair of wickets, each.

The West Indies then started their chase relatively well with openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers putting on 43 for the first wicket in just six and a half overs before King was dismissed for a rapid 20.

Johnson Charles fell soon after for just one before Captain, Shai Hope, joined Mayers at the crease.

The pair put on a further 64 before Mayers fell in the 21^st over for 56.

Nicholas Pooran joined Hope at the wicket and the two centurions from the last game plotted to continue from where they left off in the last game.

That was not the case, however, as Hope fell for 30 just three overs into their partnership.

Pooran (34) and Rovman Powell (1) then fell in quick succession to leave the West Indies 180-6 in the 33^rd over.

Jason Holder then came to join Roston Chase, who was batting well in the midst of the carnage at the other end, and the pair looked comfortable, adding a further 37 runs before Holder fell for 19 in the 41^st over.

Keemo Paul then came and went for just one before Chase’s resistance was ended for 44 to leave the West Indies on the brink at 224-9 in the 43^rd over.

With the score on 233 in the 45^th over, Alzarri Joseph chipped a ball to Sikandar Raza at short mid-wicket to confirm the 35-run win for Zimbabwe.

Tendai Chatara led the way with the ball with 3-52 off 9.4 overs while Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and Sikandar Raza all took two wickets, each.

Both teams have already advanced to the Super 6 stage. Zimbabwe will play the USA in their last group game on Monday while, on the same day, the West Indies will face the Netherlands.

Tammy Beaumont broke an 88-year record for the highest Test score by an England woman as her 195 not out gave Heather Knight’s side real hope of a first-innings lead against Australia.

Betty Snowball’s 189 against New Zealand in February 1935 was the previous benchmark but Beaumont made history by overtaking the record shortly before tea on day three of the lone Women’s Ashes Test.

She requires just five more for a historic double hundred – a week on from making 201 against Australia A in a warm-up – as England ended the session on 428 for six – their highest ever score against Australia – in reply to 473 all out at Trent Bridge.

Beaumont, who successfully overturned an lbw decision given against her on 152, put on 72 with Test debutant Danni Wyatt (44) on Saturday afternoon as Australia huffed and puffed in the field, rotating their eight bowlers but struggling to create consistent wicket-taking chances on a flat pitch.

There was a hint of turn on offer so it was a surprise Australia waited more than an hour to introduce their spinners, after Beaumont and Natalie Sciver-Brunt (78) had made hay, extending their stand to 137 from just 187 balls as they resumed their innings with England on 218 for two.

Sciver-Brunt might have been dismissed without adding to her overnight 41 after missing a flick and being rapped on the front pad by Darcie Brown but England’s star all-rounder reviewed the lbw decision and was vindicated as Hawk-Eye showed the ball would have gone on to drift past leg stump.

It was a nervy start from Sciver-Brunt, who also edged Kim Garth just out of the reach of the slips on 42 but Beaumont settled by driving, steering then pulling Brown for three fours in an over.

Sciver-Brunt was soon into her stride with three successive fours off Annabel Sutherland after going past 50. With Australia’s seamers struggling to exert control, it was a surprise the tourists waited 75 minutes to turn to spin – and their folly was exposed as Gardner struck with her ninth ball.

Backing away for an attempted cut, Sciver-Brunt, who showed no sign of a minor knee injury which restricted her to bowling just five overs in Australia’s innings, got a thick edge to a flatter delivery and Alyssa Healy held on.

Sophia Dunkley was bogged down by Australia’s spinners either side of lunch and was eventually put out of her misery after missing a heave across the line to Gardner and losing her off stump.

Gardner especially was challenging both edges as she and Alana King tried to stifle England. Leg-spinner King thought she had snaffled Beaumont, who was given lbw on 152 after missing a full-blooded sweep but vindicated by a review as Hawk-Eye showed the ball pitched fractionally outside leg stump.

Wyatt fulfilled her brief with an adventurous innings as both she and Beaumont used their feet expertly against Australia’s spinners. Drawing on her significant white-ball experience, Wyatt had a sparkling cameo which led to Australia belatedly taking the new ball in the 100th over.

Her favoured cut shot was fed but she then hung her bat out once too often and edged to a diving Jess Jonassen while England were six down after passing 400 when Amy Jones limply miscued to mid-on.

But Beaumont moved to within one run of Snowball by tickling Ellyse Perry off her hips for four before setting a new record with a late cut off Sutherland that bisected second slip and gully for her 26th four.

BCCI on Friday announced India's Test and ODI squads for their upcoming tour of the West Indies.

The selection committee's patience with veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav finally ran out as the duo were dropped from the Test side after a disappointing WTC final.

Pujara's dwindling returns ever since his return to the Test side a year ago were always a concern while Umesh Yadav's lackluster show against Australia in the WTC final put the writing on the wall.

Young top-order batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and pacer Mukesh Kumar earned their maiden Test call-ups while Navdeep Saini returned to the scheme of things after a long gap.

Jaiswal was always on the selector's radar after his fantastic show in IPL 2023, where he scored 625 runs at a strike rate of 163. What also went in the left-hander's favor was his staggering record in first-class cricket. The Mumbai cricketer has an average of 80.21 in 15 matches with 9 centuries and a highest score of 265.

Mohammed Shami was given a break from both Tests and ODIs. Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur and Ajinkya Rahane held on to their places in the Test squad and so did spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel.

Interestingly, Rahane, who was nowhere in the scheme of things for about 15 months, was named as the vice-captain of the Test side following a successful WTC final where he ended up as India's top run-getter riding on the back of a gritty 89-run knock in the first innings.

As far as the ODI squad is concerned, Sanju Samson was named as wicketkeeper-batter along with Ishan Kishan. In the absence of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, the selectors quite understandably decided to back Suryakumar Yadav at No.4, who has had a forgetful run in the 50-over format so far.

Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace battery. He will have Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat for support. Umran Malik made his comeback into the side while Mukesh Kumar was named in ODIs too.

For the spin department, there were no surprises as Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja picked themselves.

The three-match ODI series will begin on July 27 in Barbados.

India’s Test squad for West Indies series: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.

India’s ODI squad for West Indies series: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.

Nat Sciver-Brunt fell for 78 but Tammy Beaumont helped England surge past 300 to eat into Australia’s lead on the third morning of the lone Women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

Beaumont advanced her overnight 100 to 144 not out as England went to lunch on 308 for three to trail by 165, although Sciver-Brunt was unable to join her team-mate into three figures as she nicked off.

However, the pair’s stand was worth 137 in just 187 balls as Australia struggled to make inroads on a flat pitch despite rotating their options – having used eight bowlers in this England innings.

They resolutely stuck with seam for more than the first hour of the day before off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner made Australia’s sole breakthrough of the session after drawing a mistake from Sciver-Brunt.

She might have been dismissed without adding to her overnight 41 after missing a flick and being rapped on the front pad by Darcie Brown but England’s star all-rounder reviewed the lbw decision and was vindicated as Hawk-Eye showed the ball would have gone on to drift past leg stump.

It was a chancy start from Sciver-Brunt, who also edged Kim Garth just out of the reach of the slips on 42 after England had added just one run to their overnight 218 for two in the first three overs.

In the next over, Beaumont settled by driving, steering then pulling Brown for three fours in an over while Sciver-Brunt was soon into her stride with three successive fours off Annabel Sutherland.

Beaumont and Sciver-Brunt were rarely troubled by Australia’s seamers so it was a surprise the tourists waited 75 minutes to turn to spin – and their folly was exposed as Gardner struck with her ninth ball.

Backing away for an attempted cut, Sciver-Brunt, who showed no sign of a minor knee injury which restricted her to bowling just fiver overs in Australia’s innings, got a thick edge to a flatter delivery and Alyssa Healy held on.

Seamer Tahlia McGrath offered some control with her tight lines, conceding just 13 runs in seven overs, while in the over before lunch leg-spinner Alana King found prodigious turn with one delivery, which may offer Australia some cheer heading into the next session.

Steve Smith says he felt like he had drunk “a dozen beers” last time he played at Lord’s, as he prepares to return to the venue for the second Ashes Test.

The Australia batsman became the first cricketer to be formally substituted out of a Test match with concussion when he withdrew from the second Test at Lord’s in 2019.

Smith initially passed concussion testing before returning having been struck on the neck by England pace bowler Jofra Archer on day four.

Yet he was ruled out on the final day – with the match drawn – and also missed the following Test at Headingley.

Smith recalled the incident ahead of the second Test, which starts on Wednesday. Australia lead the series following their two-wicket victory in the opener at Edgbaston.

The 34-year-old explained: “It was just a day that I wasn’t quite seeing the ball as well as I would have liked from that end.

“Archer was bowling 93 to 96 miles an hour at stages. And the wicket felt like it was a little bit up and down. So it certainly wasn’t easy.

“It was a very difficult period to get through, and obviously I caught one on the arm, got away with a few pull shots that are top edge and a couple in the gaps. And then I caught one in the back of the head, which hurt a fair bit.

“At that stage, I didn’t realise I was getting concussed. I went off and did all the tests, passed all the tests.

“It wasn’t until I came back out and half an hour after, when the adrenaline sort of went out of my system and I started to feel quite groggy, probably like I’d had a dozen beers to be honest. That lasted for a little bit. It was a difficult period and he bowled really nicely.”

Smith scored 92 in the first innings, which had been delayed due to rain, before he was dismissed lbw by Chris Woakes.

“I remember spending a lot of time in the nets and even the day before the game, I think I had a really long net, I just couldn’t find a rhythm. And then finally, something just clicked and I started to feel good,” he said.

“That was probably after two and a half hours in the net. So I’d say after that I was probably a little bit mentally fatigued from having such a long hit the day before the game, but I also felt like I was prepared and ready to go. And then it was just about going out in the middle and playing.

“We were losing a lot of wickets at the other end throughout that innings. I was just trying to stay in the present as much as possible, probably up until we’re about eight down, which was when I started to probably play a few more shots.”

::Legends of The Ashes is a new 10-part Global Original podcast series on Global Player and all major audio platforms.

Dan Mousley shone with bat and ball as Birmingham Bears clinched a Vitality Blast quarter-final spot with a convincing 53-run win over rivals Worcestershire on Friday.

Mousley hit 51 in his side’s imposing 228 for four and then took four for 41 as the Rapids were restricted to 175 for nine by the North Group leaders.

Rob Yates also scored 59 for the Bears and Glenn Maxwell added 44 from 20 deliveries while Mitchell Santner top-scored for the visitors with 56.

South Group leaders Somerset secured a home quarter-final with a tight four-wicket win over Gloucestershire at Taunton.

The hosts made a fine start as they reduced Gloucestershire to nine for three but Grant Roelofsen’s 52 and an unbeaten 42 from Jack Taylor helped the visitors post a competitive 186 for eight.

Will Smeed cracked 78 from 42 balls in reply but it took further contributions from Ben Green (37), Kasey Aldridge (32no) and Craig Overton (17no) to ensure the job was completed with three balls to spare.

Elsewhere, Daniel Bell-Drummond smashed a century and Grant Stewart took a hat-trick as Kent claimed a crushing 55-run win over Middlesex.

Bell-Drummond hit 12 fours and four sixes in a 58-ball 111 and shared in a 127-run opening stand with Tawanda Muyeye (50) as Kent ran up 228 for three.

Middlesex were bowled out for 173 in 19 overs in reply as George Linde, Joey Evison and Stewart each took three wickets.

England white-ball captain Jos Buttler hit a 39-ball 83 with six sixes and eight fours as Lancashire beat Derbyshire by 27 runs in a rain-affected match at Old Trafford.

Liam Livingstone added an unbeaten 47 as the Lightning made 177 for four from their reduced allocation of 15 overs.

Derbyshire could muster just 150 for seven in response.

Chris Lynn (62) and Saif Zaib (55) hit half-centuries as Northamptonshire powered to an emphatic 92-run win over the North Group’s bottom side Leicestershire.

The pair put on 114 for the third wicket to help the Steelbacks to 210 for seven.

The Foxes then crumbled to 118 all out despite 49 from England squad member Rehan Ahmed. Ben Sanderson was the pick of the bowling with three for 20 as the Steelbacks kept themselves in the quarter-final picture.

Shadab Khan struck 87 from 53 balls as Sussex beat Glamorgan by 20 runs. The Pakistan all-rounder hit five fours and five sixes in his side’s 182 for six at Cardiff.

Cam Fletcher top-scored with 57 in reply and Sam Northeast weighed in with 44 but Glamorgan fell short after Brad Currie and Tymal Mills took two wickets apiece.

Hampshire beat Essex by four wickets by four wickets after 76 from captain James Vince in a close finish in Southampton.

James Fuller also scored 56 but Benny Howell’s 36no and a late flurry from Liam Dawson were also needed for the hosts to reach their target of 210 in the last over.

Dan Lawrence (70) and Feroze Khushi (61) were the mainstays of Essex’s 209 for seven after putting on 127 for the first wicket.

The encounter between Durham and Yorkshire at the Riverside was declared a no result after rain intervened. Yorkshire were 49 for one after 8.1 overs when play was abandoned.

Tammy Beaumont insisted she would only take satisfaction from her maiden Test hundred if it counts towards an England victory in the Women’s Ashes series opener.

Beaumont reached three figures in the penultimate over of day two, going to stumps unbeaten on exactly 100 as England closed on 218 for two having rallied after Australia posted a formidable 473 all out.

She rode her luck as she was dropped on four while leg-spinner Alana King twice found the England opener’s inside edge after she had passed her fifty – the first looped over the short-leg fielder while the second struck Beaumont’s boot on the full before being caught but Australia neglected to review.

Despite admitting she has ticked an item from her bucket list in compiling an Ashes Test ton, Beaumont will rank its significance at the end of the match which marks the start of the multi-format series.

“There were probably moments where I thought I wasn’t going to face enough balls to get there but it put the team in a good position,” she said.

“If we go on to win this Test match then it would be right up there. It’s great to tick it off and as a kid, I dreamt of scoring an Ashes Test hundred. But as I’ve gone on, it’s contributing to the team.

“If you apply yourself as a batter there’s definitely runs out there to be had and so far our batters have pretty much looked at ease.

“I guess I got lucky with one but then again I’ve probably had a couple of unlucky decisions in the last month or so in regional cricket – luck came at the right time.”

This innings a decade on from her Test debut carried Beaumont into an exclusive group as just the second woman to register a ton across all three international formats, joining England captain Heather Knight, with whom she shared a crucial 115-run stand as the hosts launched a robust fightback.

“Heather said to me when I came into the changing room ‘welcome to the club’ – I didn’t realise she meant the all three formats one, I thought she just meant an Ashes hundred,” the 32-year-old said.

“It’s always good to look back at personal milestones and nice to tick that one off – something that I thought probably might evade me as I’m coming to the later half of my career.”

With Nat Sciver-Brunt unable to bowl on Friday after jarring her right knee – she fielded and later batted, registering a fluent 41 not out – England’s bowlers were understaffed on a flat pitch.

But Sophie Ecclestone rose to the challenge as she claimed a maiden five-wicket haul in Tests, a fitting reward following 46.2 overs of hard toil, and Beaumont cheekily suggested afterwards the slow left-armer could be an option for the men’s side as doubts swirl over Moeen Ali’s readiness for Lord’s.

“There’s not enough adjectives for how good Sophie Ecclestone is and how good she can be,” Beaumont added.

“To bowl 40-odd overs in the first innings of a Test match, how she held an end like she did and also challenge to look like she would take wickets consistently – maybe if Mo’s finger doesn’t hold up, she’ll have to go off there or something.”

Australia added 235 for the last four wickets, largely thanks to a maiden international century from Annabel Sutherland, whose highest score in 33 previous internationals in all formats 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 hundred by an Australian woman off only 148 balls.

She showed the enviable depth of Australia’s batting pool with the highest score by a number eight in women’s Tests and there was no keeping her out of the game as she snared Emma Lamb before Beaumont and Knight, who registered a composed 57, redressed the balance at Trent Bridge.

“It’s pretty special. I’m not sure it’s quite sunken in yet,” she said.

“It’s something you dream of growing up. To do that job for the team was pretty cool.”

Former West Indies opener, Chris Gayle, the self-proclaimed Universe Boss, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays’ inaugural Cricket Day on Saturday, June 24 and he wants everyone to come see him do it.

Known worldwide as one of the most destructive batters in world cricket, the charismatic Gayle is in Toronto, Canada as a special guest and had a batting practice session prior to the big day on Saturday.

“I’m town, Toronto just comes alive. So tomorrow is Blue Jays Cricket Day and Universe Boss will be doing the first pitch. You don’t want to miss that one,” Gayle declared in a short video on Twitter. “It’s going to be epic; 95 miles per hour pitch from the Universe Boss. You don’t wanna miss it.”

In addition to throwing out the first pitch and engaging in batting sessions, Gayle is also expected to be involved in other activities expected to excite fans in the Canadian city.

So far in the ICC Word Cup Qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe, the West Indies have had it relatively easy.

Firstly, they picked up a 39-run win over the USA on Sunday then a dominant 101-run win over Nepal on Thursday.

On Saturday, they are expected to face their first big test when they take on the hosts, Zimbabwe, who are also undefeated after two games.

Zimbabwe have had a pair of successful chases in their first two encounters. They needed only 44.1 overs and lost only two wickets on their way to overhauling 290 made by Nepal in their first game before needing even less time, 40.1 overs to be exact, to chase down 315 against the Netherlands in their second game.

West Indies batsman, Nicholas Pooran, says the Caribbean side is looking forward to the challenge of the in-form Zimbabweans.

“We expect the fans to come out and support Zimbabwe,” Pooran said.

“We’re playing international cricket and the home fans normally come out and support so it’s just going to be a normal game for us but again, the Zimbabwe fans are really passionate as well so we’re looking forward to the opportunity and the challenge against them,” Pooran added before emphasizing that every game they play in this tournament should be considered big.

“Every game is a big game so we don’t want to get into the habit of saying that USA or Nepal aren’t big games. They’re all big games but, in saying that, it’s nice to have batsmen that are in form going into a game like that. We all know that we need to be consistent and keep putting our hands up when the team needs us to,” he said.

The 27-year-old, who also got 115 against Nepal in the last game, also commented on the early start times of the matches and the condition of the Zimbabwean pitches.

“It makes the games very even,” said Pooran of the early start times.

“Obviously, the games are starting at 9:00 am here and there’s some moisture in the pitch. We know as a group that we need to fight that period out and, if we do that, it can be a really good cricketing pitch. I think the game becomes very equal and it’s all about who embraces the moment,” he added.

As it relates to the conditions, “it’s beautiful” was Pooran’s response.

“Coming from the Caribbean, I personally didn’t expect the wickets to be that good in Zimbabwe but I’ll take this any day,” he added.

Tammy Beaumont’s maiden Test century helped England rebound after their understaffed bowlers were made to toil by Annabel Sutherland’s unbeaten 137 on day two of this Women’s Ashes series opener.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Knight joined Beaumont in passing an untroubled 50 but was undone by a hint of turn and bounce from Ashleigh Gardner and nicked off. But Sciver-Brunt got off nought with an authoritative drive off Gardner for the first of seven fours as she upped the ante.

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.

In doing so, Beaumont became just the second woman – after Knight – to score a hundred in all three international formats.

West Indies allrounder Yannic Cariah underwent a surgical procedure to repair a fracture to his nose.

The leg-spinner and left-handed batter suffered a nasal fracture when he was struck in the face during a training session last Saturday while preparing for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe.

The procedure was performed in Harare on Thursday evening. Cariah will remain with the squad under the care of the CWI Medical Team whilst he recovers.  A decision on when he can return to play will be made in the coming days, as the medical team support his recovery.

Assistant Coach, Floyd Reifer, was also struck in the face during a training session on Wednesday and has also undergone a similar procedure. Reifer will continue his coaching duties under the supervision of the CWI Medical Team.

West Indies have so far played two ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier matches in the group stages, defeating United States on Sunday and Nepal on Thursday, to sit top of Group A with two group stage fixtures to play. West Indies will face Zimbabwe on Saturday June 24 and Netherlands on Monday June 27.

In the group stage, each side plays the other group teams once with the top three from each group progressing to the Super Six stage. Each team carries over to the Super Six stage any points won against the other two qualifying teams from their group. Each team in the Super Six will then play three further matches against the qualifying teams from the opposite group.

The Super Six stage will be played from Thursday 29 June to Friday 7 July and the top two teams in the final Super Six table will qualify for the ICC 2023 Cricket World Cup to be played in India later this year.

West Indies ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Group Stage Match Schedule

All matches start at 9am local time (3am Eastern Caribbean/2am Jamaica)

Sunday 18 June: West Indies beat USA by 39 runs at Takashinga Cricket Club
Thursday 22 June: West Indies beat Nepal by 101 runs at Harare Sports Club
Saturday 24 June: v Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club
Monday 26 June: v Netherlands at Takashinga Cricket Club