Australia strike back late to surge ahead on penultimate day

In another see-sawing day in Nottingham, Australia nudged ahead in the one-off Women's Ashes Test by reducing the hosts to 116/5 in their pursuit of 268, by stumps on day 4. England shot themselves in the foot with a collapse of 4 for 18 when they had the upper hand, having restricted Australia to just 257 in their second innings courtesy Sophie Ecclestone's second fifer of the game and Lauren Filer's crucial middle-order strikes. Despite a quick fifty opening stand and a largely positive start to the chase, Australia's strong comeback with the ball, inspired by Ash Gardner, ensured both parties stayed in the hunt for the four-point lead in the multi-format series opener.

As Australia resumed from the overnight score of 82 without loss, Beth Mooney continued in the same vein but Phoebe Litchfield was denied a maiden half-century. After dropping the Australian debutant on 34 early in the day, Kate Cross made amends by knocking her over with a beautiful inswinger to catch her four short of the milestone. Nat Sciver-Brunt made a similar mistake - dropping Mooney off the first ball of her spell - and paid the price. Mooney played with positive intent and kept the runs flowing even as Ellyse Perry took her time settling in.

England's late comeback in the session was down to some quality fast bowling from Filer, who nipped out Perry for the second successive time and then breached the defences of Tahlia McGrath to reduce Australia to 157/3 by Lunch. Their success story continued post Lunch with Ecclestone taking centrestage now. A slow-down in scoring post break took its toll as Jess Jonassen was bowled for just 14.

Annabel Sutherland launched a brief counterattack with three boundaries off Cross but Ecclestone struck again, this time denying Mooney a shot at the century. Mooney chopped on, 15 short of the mark. Gardner was in and out in a giffy, but the spinner also sent Sutherland packing, who top-edged her pull to offer an easy catch. At 198/7, Australia were in deep trouble but their skipper put their hand up.

Coming in on the back of ducks in her last three Test innings, Healy counterattacked to revvie Australia's hopes of setting a 300-plus total. Forging an unbeaten half-century stand, the eight-wicket paid saw through the session with Australia's lead swelling to 264 by Tea, three wickets still intact and their skipper three short of a potentially a match-winning fifty.

Australia's downfall was equally swift on the other side of Tea. Healy did get to her fifty, in 61 balls, but all England and Ecclestone needed were three overs to wrap up the proceedings. It was Lauren Bell, though, who provided the breakthrough, cutting through Australia's celebrations with the wicket of King just as soon as Healy turned over the strike.Soon after, the half-centurion ended up chipping a low full toss to midwicket off Ecclestone, who then trapped Darcie Brown LBW three balls later to restrict Australia to 257 in the second innings.

Momentum on their side, English openers got the chase of 268 underway quite briskly. In the first eight overs, the hosts had accelerated to 6 RPO with boundaries flowing freely. Australia sought quick changes with the ball, but even Sutherland was welcomed into the attack with back-to-back fours by Emma Lamb, who was lucky to see the outside edge slip through the cordon on both occasions. She went on to raise the team's first fifty in just 8.3 overs.

Desperate for a breakthrough, Healy threw the ball to Gardner post drinks and she had Tammy Beaumont caught at first slip to vindicate the captain's call. One brought two and Lamb was given LBW to McGrath despite a desperate review.

Heather Knight wasn't going to let the two quick dismissals slow her down, and even launched Gardner over midwicket to get off the mark with a six, but seeing her deputy throw her wicket away in the same over forced her hand. The spinner however had the last laugh when she sent Knight packing, trapping her LBW with one that turned in sharply to strike her low on the pads. England had slipped from 55/0 to 73/4 in no time and the survival mode kicked in.

The run-rate dropped, but Australia weren't done yet. A late bowling change helped Australia strike again as Kim Garth got Sophia Dunkley to nick one behind, thereby opening her account in Test cricket. Five wickets in the final hour of play had swung the game in Australia's favour while Danni Wyatt (20*) held the fort for the hosts, who need another 152 on the final day.

Brief scores: England 463 & 116/5 (Emma Lamb 28; Ash Gardner 3-33) trail Australia 473 & 257 (Beth Mooney 85, Alyssa Healy 50, Phoebe Litchfield 46; Sophie Ecclestone 5-63, Lauren Filer 2-49) by 151 runs