Rain Stalls Australia Women In Worcester

Rain Stalls Australia Women In Worcester

Rene Farrell started things off brightly for Australia with two quick wickets.

©Action Images / Steven Paston

Australia Women 309 (Fields 139, Haynes 95, Brunt 6-69) v
England Women 116-5 (Gunn 34no, Farrell 2-11)
Scorecard
Ashes Test match, Worcester, day two: stumps

A combination of rain and resilient batting from England Women held up Australia Women as they moved into a dominant position on day two of the Ashes Test match at New Road, Worcester.

After they were bowled out for 309, they removed England's much-vaunted top order cheaply to leave the hosts struggling on 116 for five when play was ended early.

Ellyse Perry was left stranded on 18 not out as England made quick work of getting through the tail to dismiss Australia, Katherine Brunt finishing with six for 69 and Nicki Shaw three for 67.

Faced with chasing down 309 to get on level terms and with the memory that Australia themselves had been 28 for five on day one, England almost faced a similar situation themselves as they collapsed to 28 for four and 59 for five.

Openers Caroline Atkins (2) and Lydia Greenway (5) were both dismissed after just 38 minutes before Australia were celebrating the wickets of England's chief run-scorers, Charlotte Edwards and Claire Taylor, both on their way for ten runs. Taylor was caught by Leah Poulton off of Lauren Ebsary while Edwards was trapped in front by Perry.

England's fifth wicket went down when Sarah Taylor was trapped in front by left-arm spinner Shelley Nitschke for 21.

Beth Morgan and Jenny Gunn when saw England through to the stumps with defensive batting the order of the day, Morgan facing 123 balls for her 23 and Gunn using up 75 deliveries in making 34.

Rene Farrell was the pick of the bowlers, dismissing the openers to return two for 11 in 15 overs.

A 229-run sixth-wicket partnership between Jodie Fields and Rachael Haynes rescued Australia on day one.

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