Pearson's record haul lifts women to draw

Australia Women 134 & 259-7 England Women 187 & 133-6 Match drawn

Lucy Pearson became only the second woman to take 11 wickets in a Test match, equalling a record which has stood for 46 years as the second Ashes encounter ended in a draw here yesterday.

Pearson, who took 7 for 51 in the first innings and 4 for 57 in the second, joins the Australian Betty Wilson, who took 11 wickets in Adelaide in 1957 against England. The drawn Test, in which Pearson was named player of the match, means the Ashes stay in Australia, following the first-Test win for the Aussies last week.

Lisa Sthalaker and Alex Blackwell put on a fifth-wicket world record-equalling stand of 136 for the Aussies, matching the score set by Betty Wilson and V Batty in the 1957 series, as Sthalaker hit an unbeaten 121 before the hosts declared on 259 for 7, a lead of 206.

England lost opener Sarah Collyer for three, but Kathryn Leng and Charlotte Edwards reached their 50 partnership in the 29th over. Although Australia struck back either side of the tea interval, Claire Taylor hit an unbeaten 21 to frustrate the Aussies, the match ending with England 74 runs in arrears with three wickets standing.