Dream debut for Colvin

Holly Colvin claimed three wickets on her England debut © Getty Images

Teenager Holly Colvin marked her debut with three wickets but some stubborn resistance from Australia’s lower order undid much of England Women’s good work on the opening day of the first npower Test at Hove.

The 15-year-old left-arm spinner was a surprise late call-up to the side after head coach Richard Bates assessed the wicket and decided to strengthen his spin options.

She defied any nerves to make a dream start to international cricket, while Rosalie Birch and Katherine Brunt claimed two wickets apiece.

Australia slumped to 115 for seven despite Karen Rolton’s 71, but a frustrating 76-run stand for the eighth wicket between Cathryn Fitzpatrick (53) and Julie Hayes (57) revived Australia’s innings.

Hayes and Shelley Nitschke then combined in a 45-run stand before Nitschke (70 not out) and Clea Smith (31 not out) shared an unbeaten last-wicket partnership of 92 as the tourists recovered to close on 328 for nine.

Jenny Gunn bowls Belinda Clark © Getty Images

Australia captain Belinda Clark won the toss and elected to bat first but that decision looked questionable as England struck in only the second over.

After Brunt began with a maiden, Jenny Gunn struck with only her second ball when she clean bowled Clark for a duck.

Lisa Keightley and Rolton steadied the ship and made steady progress to take the total onto 49.

Lisa Keightley is stumped by Jane Smit © Getty Images

Scoring proved difficult though, with captain Clare Connor proving particularly miserly and Keightley’s frustration proved costly when she was stumped by Jane Smit for 11.

Lisa Sthalekar became the first of Birch’s victims soon after when she was caught by Claire Taylor for three and Birch struck again just before lunch when Blackwell was snapped up by Gunn for five.

Karen Rolton made a half-century for Australia © Getty Images

That reduced Australia to 87 for four at the interval, with Rolton unbeaten on 58, but she could only add 13 more runs during the afternoon until Brunt claimed the prize wicket, with Charlotte Edwards taking the catch.

Colvin then made her impact with two wickets in successive balls as Kate Blackwell was trapped lbw before Julia Price was bowled first ball, leaving the youngster on a hat-trick.

Then followed the eighth-wicket partnership which prevented England polishing off the innings as veteran pace bowler Fitzpatrick used all her experience to reach her half-century.

She reached 53 but Colvin was not fazed by her opponent and returned to dismiss Fitzpatrick just before tea.

Hayes and Nitschke then combined in a 45-run stand before Brunt had Hayes caught for 57 as England toiled in vain for the final wicket