Mixed day for Southern Vipers stars in Women’s Ashes

There’s been a mixed first day of the Women’s Ashes Test for the Southern Vipers stars.

Maia Bouchier, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Lauren Bell were all in action as England look to avoid a whitewash in an Ashes series already won by Australia.

Australia won the toss and opted to field in a glorious day in Melbourne, before getting off to the perfect start with opening-bat Bouchier departing for just two off the bowling of Kim Garth.

England were finding the scoring tough, restricted to just 127/5 after 49 overs by the time Wyatt-Hodge fell for 22 off the bowling of Alana King, who ripped through the England middle order with impressive figures of 4/45.

Bell’s wicket, for seven, brought England’s innings to a close at a below-par 170, with vice-captain Nat Sciver-Brunt top scoring with 51.

Bell was impressive with the ball though, taking the only Australia wicket to fall when she dismissed Georgia Voll with the last ball of the seventh over.

As stumps were called, England find themselves in desperate need for wickets early on day two with Australia closing on 56/1, just 114 behind England’s first innings total.