England women's Ashes hopes fade

Lydia Greenway is run out for 11 as England women slip to 35 for three. They were later undermined by Rene Farrell's hat-trick

England need to take nine Australia wickets on the final day if they want to keep hold of the Ashes following another pulsating day of Test cricket in Sydney.

The tourists' second innings was undermined by a piece of history - Rene Farrell took just the third hat-trick in a women's Test and only the second in Ashes history.

England hit back with the ball when Katherine Brunt bowled Rachael Haynes to leave Australia 29 for one and needing a further 169 for victory at the Bankstown Oval.

England endured a torrid time with the bat and were indebted to tailenders Isa Guha and Holly Colvin, who added 41 crucial runs having come together at 107 for eight.

Guha made 26 and Colvin a career-best 21 before the pair were both run out in successive overs as England's innings ended in frantic fashion.

Any hopes England had of building a substantial lead were ripped to shreds by Farrell.

Before Farrell's moment, Charlotte Edwards and Jenny Gunn had rebuilt the innings, which resumed on nine without loss but soon deteriorated to 35 for three.

Openers Caroline Atkins and Heather Knight fell cheaply while Lydia Greenway's dive failed to beat Alex Blackwell's throw as she became the first of three run-outs.

Despite Gunn perishing for 30, the tourists were sitting reasonably comfortably on 94 for four at the start of the 54th over.

Laura Marsh is taken by Jess Cameron off Shelley Nitschke, leaving England thankful for Isa Guha and Holly Colvin's resistance

Farrell turned the innings upside down when she trapped first-innings centurion Edwards lbw, bowled Katherine Brunt and completed her hat-trick by pinning Danielle Hazell in front.

Suddenly England were in dire trouble, particularly when Laura Marsh was superbly caught by Jess Cameron at slip off Shelley Nitschke, until Guha and Colvin performed a much-needed rescue act.

Gunn, who made 30, said: "We have runs on board so the pressure is on them to perform tomorrow.

“It was good to build a partnership with Charlotte in the middle and Holly and Isa made a good contribution later on.

“We picked up a wicket with the new ball and have another shot in the morning. A couple of wickets and the pressure is all on them.”

Farrell compared her acehivement with Australia winning the World Twenty20 last year. "This sits up there very high on the list and I’ll remember it for a long time,” she said.

“I wanted to bowl it nice and straight and make her (Hazell) play. It’s a great feeling and to also finish with a five-for was nice.

“It was a very good day for us but there is still a long way to go in this Test match and it will be an even better feeling if we can chase these runs."