Sthalekar stalls England

Lisa Sthalekar spearheads the Australia fightback during the third day's play © Getty Images

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England women edged closer to retaining the Ashes despite Australia mounting a strong comeback on the third day of the solitary Test in Bowral.

Though the tourists, who need only draw the match to retain the Ashes they won in 2005, go into the final day’s play 105 runs adrift, it seems unlikely Australia will force a result given the pace of the game so far.

England, resuming on 222 for seven in the morning, were bowled out for 244 – a not insignificant first-innings lead of 90 – and reduced Australia to 34 for three to raise hopes of triumphing with a day to spare.

But the hosts fought back admirably at the Bradman Oval, recovering to reach 195 for four thanks largely to Lisa Sthalekar, who followed up her three-wicket haul with a superb unbeaten 95.

Australia’s hopes of victory lie in extending their second-innings advantage and bowling England out on the final day, while Charlotte Edwards’ side need only survive for a proportion of the 140 overs they batted in the first innings to ensure the Ashes return to England.

The impressive Isa Guha celebrates the departure of Alex Blackwell © Getty Images

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Laura Marsh, Rosalie Birch and Isa Guha barely inconvenienced the Australia attack in the morning session as Emma Sampson, Kirsten Pike and Shelley Nitschke shared the final three wickets to fall inside 13 overs.

But England, as they did in the first innings, enjoyed success with the new ball.

Guha, whose 5-40 return helped bowl Australia out for 154 on day one, was again the architect behind Australia’s top-order collapse by claiming the first three wickets.

Melissa Bulow and Karen Rolton were trapped leg before either side of Alex Blackwell’s downfall – she played on attempting to cut – with Australia still 56 in arrears.

But Sthalekar and Nitschke repaired the damage courtesy of a fourth-wicket stand of 107, Australia’s highest of the match.

Nitschke, who saw Beth Morgan spill a return catch when she had scored eight and Australia’s total stood at 51, went on to make 36, and Kate Blackwell filled a similar supporting role after Nitschke was caught and bowled by Holly Colvin.

Blackwell was unbeaten on 27 at the close, with Sthalekar within touching distance of a century, having faced 182 balls and hit 11 fours in more than three and a half hours at the crease.