IT was certainly a fun day for the bowlers on day four of the Women’s Ashes Test, but the exploits of the likes of Sophie Ecclestone and Ash Gardner have left Australia with a slight advantage heading into the final day.

The Aussies begun the day with a 92 run lead, but Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield could not continue their partnership from the night before for long, with Litchfield dismissed inside the first five overs of the day, but also fell just short of a maiden test half century.

Mooney did not go as cheaply though, working well with Ellyse Perry to put on a 50 run second wicket partnership, and Mooney herself putting 85 runs on the board. However that would be the last solid partnership for a while for the Australians, with the next four batters on the card making 31 runs combined between the four of them.

Once Alyssa Healy came in though she steadied the ship a bit, combining well with Alana King to put together a 59 run partnership and put 50 runs on the board individually.

However once King was dismissed that was dismissed that was it for Australia’s scoring, with the Aussies going from 8/257 to all out for 257 within the space of six balls.

Much like the first Australian innings it was Ecclestone who was chief destroyer with the ball for England, picking up another five wicket haul.

With a target of 268, England made a productive enough start to their chase, but once they lost their first wicket, Gardner got on a roll, and she and Tahlia McGrath combining saw England then lose 4/11 to swing the game back in the tourists’ favour. Kim Garth also got in on the action late, earning her first ever wicket in Test cricket.

This leaves England heading into the final day needing 152 runs and Australia needing five wickets for the win.

DAILY SCORECARD

Australia 10/473 and 10/257

Mooney 85

Healy 50

Litchfield 46

Gardner three wickets

England 10/463 and 5/116

Ecclestone five wickets

Lauren Filer two wickets

Kate Cross two wickets