14 Aug 2015 | Cricket
England women's Ashes defence will face a pivotal day on Friday after rain, and an inspired Katherine Brunt new-ball burst, failed to prevent Australia from edging further ahead in the Kia Test.
In the two-and-a-half hours' play between the downpours, Australia reached 90 for four to lead the hosts by 196 runs going into the fourth and final day.
Australia, starting their second innings on a gloomy third morning but with a 106-run first innings lead already in the bank, were soon in trouble against the pace of Brunt.
Bowling for the first time in the match down the Nackington Road slope, Brunt struck with her fifth ball of the morning to send back Elyse Villani for a duck with an off-cutter that slid past the right-hander's back-foot defensive push to poleaxe off stump.
In her next over, Brunt, whose opening deliveries were clocked at 75mph, nipped one back inside the defensive push of Meg Lanning to send the Australia captain back to the pavilion for a third-ball duck and make it two for two after three overs.
Thunderstorms and lightning strikes hit soon after at 11.31am, resulting in a flooded outfield and a delay of just over four hours as the groundstaff at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence worked minor miracles to get the field fit for a 3.45pm re-start.
Kate Cross, centre, celebrates with her team-mates after claiming the wicket of Australia opener Nicole Bolton with the third delivery after the resumption Ellyse Perry was caught behind off an under-edge when attempting a late cut against Anya Shrubsole.
Then, some 32 runs later, England were celebrating again after left-handed opener Nicole Bolton, who had faced 81 balls for 25, drove loosely at a Kate Cross delivery that popped up out of the bowlers' rough to loop a simple catch to Brunt at extra-cover and make it 51 for four.
The last meaningful action of the day involved Alex Blackwell who, with her score on nine and the total at 68 for four, was seemingly caught at slip by Heather Knight off the bowling of Brunt.
Though given out, Blackwell stalled three-quarters of the way back to the boundary ropes to instigate the first reviewed catch in the history of women's Test cricket.
After lengthy consideration Martin Saggers, the third official for the Test, gave Blackwell the benefit of the doubt and overturned the decision.
Jess Jonassen, who hit 99 in Australia's first innings, revealed greater intent as she rushed to an unbeaten 29 - including hitting Laura Marsh's spin for six - to offer an insight into the haste with which the tourists are likely to begin with tomorrow.
Even before the rain swept back in at 6pm to force the players off for the day, England already knew they would face a world record run-chase in women's cricket if they are to win this game.
Australia lead the multi-format series 4-2 with victory in this match worth four points. The series concludes with three NatWest T20 Internationals, which are worth six points in total. The last of these takes place at the SSE SWALEC in Cardiff on Monday the 31st August, part of an IT20 Double Header.