Australia enjoyed the best of the first day of the Kia Women’s Test at Taunton, reaching 265-3 at the close.
In a must-win game for England their bowlers plugged away with limited success, coming up against Ellyse Perry (84*) and Rachael Haynes (54*) who put on 105 for the fourth wicket.
Three wickets fell in the day, all bowled, with Katherine Brunt, debutant Kirstie Gordon and Sophie Ecclestone claiming one apiece. Had England enjoyed a little more luck in the field they may have claimed a few more scalps.
Ecclestone came back strongly with the ball after earlier leaving the field injured with a bruised right shoulder, but there was further concern for England after Tammy Beaumont was struck on the left thumb fielding at short-leg.
She left the field of play for an X-Ray, and England will hope she’ll be able to open the batting alongside England’s second new cap Amy Jones.
Anya Shrubsole: “I think it’s relatively evenly poised. Day one at Taunton, I think that’s what you expect. It’s a decent batting track.
“We stuck at it, never let them get away from us and made it hard work, and with a bit more luck we could have had a few more wickets.
“If we can get a pick up a couple tomorrow morning then the game opens up a bit more and that’s what we’ll be aiming to do.”
Courtesy of the ECB
