Summary

Live Reporting

by Matthew Henry & Timothy Abraham

  1. Australia review

    Darcie Brown strikes Nat Sciver-Brunt on the top of the back leg with a delivery which jags in.

    After chewing the fat with her team-mates Australia skipper Alyssa Healy goes for the review.

  2. How's stat?!

    A single in that over took Heather Knight past 4,000 runs in ODIs.

  3. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    England are in a strong position. They still have a long batting line-up to come in Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones.

    The outfield is so quick here so once you are in it's going to be easy to find the boundaries and they should achieve a decent total.

  4. How's stat?!

    Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    Heather Knight has got after Ash Gardner in the past, and she pulls out the reverse sweep first ball in her spell - the England skipper averages 41 with the stroke, striking at just under 200.

  5. Eng 81-2

    It's chocka at the North Sydney Oval, which is also used for Aussie rules, rugby league, rugby union and football matches.

    Great to see such a healthy crowd in.

    Just the one over for Alana King for the time being as Ash Gardner is thrown the ball. Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt pick up three singles off her first over.

  6. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    This is the key partnership for England: Knight and Sciver-Brunt.

    Australia will know that it will be difficult to break as Nat Sciver-Brunt plays so well against them. Maia Bouchier and Tammy Beaumont will be disappointed, but this partnership is England's biggest hope now.

    BeaumontGetty Images

  7. Eng 78-2

    Darcie Brown into the attack for the Aussies after drinks.

    A rather dismissive shake of the head from Heather Knight to batting partner Nat Sciver-Brunt after she works her into the leg side for a single before gesticulating that it's coming down straight.

    Knight and Sciver-Brunt content to dab and poke Brown in the gaps to start with.

  8. Are you completely au fait with how the Women's Ashes format works?

    Either way, Alex Hartley is on hand to explain all.

    Women's Ashes format explained

  9. England 74-2 at drinks

    Barely a cloud in the sky in Sydney. Some much-needed refreshment.

  10. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    It will be interesting to see how England deal with the heat at the highest point of the day. Some players will have experience from playing in the WBBL, but they will still struggle a lot more than Australia.

  11. 6 runs

    Eng 74-2

    Alana King's take-me-on leggies summoned by Alyssa Healy.

    Nat Sciver-Brunt resists the urge early in the over but finishes it with an almighty heave into the leg side for six. England's first maximum.

  12. Eng 66-2

    The dismissal of Tammy Beaumont brings Nat Sciver-Brunt to the crease.

    Heather Knight neatly works Annabel Sutherland off her pads for four.

    This feels like a key partnership for England.

  13. How's stat?!

    Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    That's a rough innings from Tammy Beaumont. The last time she faced 30+ deliveries in an ODI innings with a lower strike rate than today (just 42) was back in October 2016. An uncharacteristically slow knock from the opener.

  14. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Tammy Beaumont tried to go down the ground and over Annabel Sutherland's head but instead she goes straight to mid-on.

    She was just starting to look settled, it was a brilliant partnership but Australia have a breakthrough now.

  15. wicket

    WICKET

    Beaumont c Garth b Sutherland 13 (Eng 61-2)

    In truth, a bit of a stodgy knock from Tammy Beaumont. So not entirely unexpected to see her rather tamely chip Annabel Sutherland into the hands of Kim Garth at mid-on.

    It's a full delivery but mistimed by Beaumont, who cannot get the elevation, and a routine catch.

  16. Michelle Goszko
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    It has been noticeable how much England have used their feet in this opening period. Not to come down the pitch and hit over mid-off or mid-on, but either to play no shot or to defend.

    They are trying to defend and navigate the swing; if you can change the length of the ball it can't swing as much.

  17. Eng 60-1

    Tammy Beaumont swivels and misses a delivery down the leg side from Kim Garth.

    So too does Australia wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy and the ball races away for four. Was there some bat on it? Possibly.

    If you're just joining us... It was an eventful start to the day.

    Megan Schutt in dismay after Ashes opening over

  18. Beaumont survives

    A full length dive from Tammy Beaumont, and she's made her ground. Some debate over whether her bat had bounced up but the third umpire has given it not out.

  19. Umpire review

    Tammy Beaumont guilty of ball watching after working the ball into the leg side off Kim Garth and has to hurry through to make her ground after a clinical piece of fielding from Ellyse Perry at mid-wicket.

    We're going upstairs.

  20. Eng 51-1

    Tammy Beaumont shows intent as she comes down the crease to Annabel Sutherland before readjusting to work her into a gap for the leg side and a single.

    Beaumont and Heather Knight content to work the Australia all-rounder around the clock to keep the run-rate ticking over.