Ashes win for England Women

England women clinched a memorable Test series victory over Australia © Getty Images

Arran Brindle and Lydia Greenway steered England to a series win over Australia for the first time in 42 years after the hosts secured a six-wicket victory in the second npower Women’s Test at New Road to claim the Ashes.

Having drawn the opening Test, victory for either side would have clinched the series at Worcester and an inspired display from Katherine Brunt proved decisive as Clare Connor's side won their first Test against Australia since the 1984 triumph in Adelaide.

It was England's second success in the space of a week after their victory in the third NatWest Women’s Series one-day international at Stratford had ended a 12-year barren run against their fierce rivals.

The Aussies were limited to 179 for seven in their second innings by stumps on Friday evening, a lead of just 21, and Brunt had them in all sorts of trouble on Saturday morning as she picked up two wickets in two balls with no runs added to the scoreboard.

First to fall was Kate Blackwell for a stubborn 72 - scored from a mammoth 284 deliveries.

Her middle-order defiance frustrated the England bowlers and it came as a great relief when Greenway held on to the catch to send her packing.

Julie Price (0) departed to the very next ball, lbw, to leave Brunt on a hat-trick. But it was not to be as Emma Liddell combined with Shelley Nitschke in a valiant last-wicket stand for the tourists.

The pair put on 53 vital runs before Beth Morgan eventually brought the innings to a close when she had Liddell caught behind by wicket-keeper Jane Smit for 24, leaving Nitschke unbeaten on 88.

England had been set a victory target of just 75, but in reply the top order wobbled and they took lunch on three for two, still 72 runs shy of a memorable victory with Laura Newton (0) and Jenny Gunn (0) back in the pavilion.

Clare Connor and opener Charlotte Edwards steadied the ship after the interval and pushed the total up to 36 when the England skipper was trapped lbw for 13.

Edwards (24) went three runs later, also lbw, as England looked distinctly nervy at 39 for four.

However, Brindle (24 not out) and Greenway (10 not out) were immovable as they combined for a 36-run fifth-wicket partnership that clinched a superb win over the world champions.