Women’s Ashes 2014: England close in on Test win

England reduced Australia to 57-5 after setting the hosts 185 to win the Women's Ashes Test in Perth.

The tourists resumed day three on 18-3 but staged a recovery, with Arran Brindle (35) and Natalie Sciver (23) shared a 54-run partnership.

Jenny Gunn (44) and Charlotte Edwards (56) added a further 85 before England collapsed to 190 all out.

Australia's run chase began strongly before they regularly lost wickets as Kate Cross took 3-13 from nine overs.

But it took a determined captain's innings by Edwards - her ninth at Test level - to put her side back in the game, after she was forced to bat down the order at number seven because she had spent time off the field with a knee injury on day two.

The hosts reached 28-0 before pace bowler Katherine Brunt had Elyse Villani, who hit 21 from 22 balls, caught by Sciver at second slip.

Lancashire seamer Cross, making her Test debut, then took two wickets in two balls as Meg Lanning was caught by wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor and Jess Cameron edged her first delivery to Heather Knight at slip.

The experienced Alex Blackwell lasted only five balls before she was also caught behind off the bowling of Cross for a duck.

Southern Stars skipper Jodie Fields was stumped by Taylor off the bowling of Gunn to leave Australia reeling and still 128 short of their target heading into the fourth and final day.

Sarah Elliott, who had scored five from 53 balls, was at the crease with Ellyse Perry at the close.

Mobile scorecard

BBC Radio will have coverage of every ball of the Women's Ashes series. Most commentaries will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra with continuous coverage online. There will also be live text commentary on the final day of this Test.