A SUPERB 139 from Australia captain Jodie Fields and 98 from debutante Rachael Haynes helped the tourists recover after a devastating opening spell from England’s Katherine Brunt on day one of the Women’s Ashes Test at New Road, Worcester.
Yorkshire quickie Brunt, so impressive in the recent World Twenty20, made a breakthrough at the end of the first over when she had Alex Blackwell caught behind for a duck.
Karen Rolton was then removed leg before, also without troubling the scorers, to leave Australia, who had won the toss and elected to bat, reeling at five for two.
All-rounder Lisa Sthalekar (6) soon followed, as did opener Shelley Nitschke, caught in the slips off the bowling of Nicky Shaw.
When Leah Poulton (1) became Brunt’s fourth victim, the tourists were 28 for five but Fields and Haynes, in her first Test, steadied the ship and Australia finished at a comfortable 271 for seven.
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