Women’s Ashes: England lose late wickets as Australia look poised to wrap up Test victory at Trent Bridge

England suffered a late loss of five wickets in their Ashes Test on day four at Trent Bridge.

England finished the day on 116-5, 152 runs behind their opponents from Down Under.

They were in a reasonable 55-0 position early on as they chased 268, which would be the highest total chased down in women’s Test cricket history.

However they slumped to 73-4 as Ash Gardner delivered four wickets for the visitors, and ended the day on 116-5 with another day to play on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Sophie Ecclestone’s figures of 5-63 got Australia all out for 257, and meant Ecclestone could claim a 10-wicket haul for the match.

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Given Australia had at one point sat on an 82-0 start, Ecclestone’s performance gave England a chance where it had look close to hopeless.

England now need to break a record if they are to win the four points on offer in the Test, but with an ageing pitch giving assistance to three Australian spin bowlers, their task may be insurmountable come Monday.