Guha eyes thrilling finale

Isa Guha is mobbed after claiming the vital wicket of Karen Rolton © Getty Images

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Isa Guha is relishing the prospect of England women clinching the Ashes – but insists they must lift their performance on the final day of the one-off Test in Bowral.

The tourists remain favourites to secure the draw they require to retain the Ashes after Australia closed the third day 105 ahead with six second-wickets intact.

Seamer Guha again starred with the ball for the tourists, following up her 5-40 first-innings return with three early wickets to reduce Australia to 34 for three.

But the hosts mounted a spirited fightback at the Bradman Oval, Lisa Sthalekar hitting an unbeaten 95 to keep Australia’s hopes of a victory alive.

“The game is well set up for an exciting finish,” said Guha, who will go into the fourth day looking to improve on figures of 3-51.

“We didn’t maintain the pressure on the Australians as a bowling unit and gave away too many loose balls to enable them to capitalise.

“However, tomorrow is another day and we’re prepared to come out and show again how strong a bowling unit we can be.

Holly Colvin breaks Australia's fourth-wicket partnership, worth 107 © Getty Images

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“We’re determined to take the Ashes home with us and are all looking forward to tomorrow.”

Holly Colvin, the left-arm spinner who ended a fourth-wicket partnership of 106 between Sthalekar and Shelley Nitschke by having the latter caught and bowled, paid tribute to Australia’s resolve.

She said: “We got off to a flying start with Isa taking three quick wickets.

“However, with the pitch getting flatter and the ball roughing up, the Aussies got stuck in and put on over 100 runs to get themselves back in the game.

“They played well to achieve that so all credit to them. We’re now looking forward to coming back out tomorrow and retaining the Ashes for England.”

Colvin lamented England’s failure to add more than 22 for the final three wickets on the fourth morning as they were bowled out for 244 – a first-innings lead of 90.

But she insisted she had faith in the bowling unit which skittled Australia for 154 on the opening day.

“I was relishing the opportunity to have a bat and face some of the world’s best bowlers,” Colvin said.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t put on as many as we would have liked and soon found ourselves back in the field.

“We weren’t too disappointed though as we were confident we could perform again in the field.”