Nitschke takes seven as England collapse

Australia women 193 for 8 (Keightley 58, Guha 3-24) beat England women 123 (Taylor 48, Nitschke 7-24) by 65 runs
Scorecard

Shelley Nitschke took seven wickets as Australia crushed England at Kidderminster. Nitschke, the slow left-arm spinner, took seven for 24 from 7.1 overs, including six wides, to give the tourists a 2-0 lead in the one-day series.

England had started their innings encouragingly, with Laura Newton making 45 and Claire Taylor, their wicketkeeper, falling two short of her second fifty in as many games. Their partnership of 79 ended when Taylor edged Julie Hayes behind, which opened the floodgates in dramatic fashion.

There were to be no near-heroics from Arran Brindle this time, as Nitschke dismissed her and Clare Connor for ducks. Nitschke continued to charge through England's lineup, although Jenny Gunn showed some resilience in lasting 20 balls for her six runs - but her wicket, one of three all with the score on 120, spelt the end for England. Nitschke's devastation caused England to lose nine wickets for 48 runs, as Australia romped home in the 39th over by 65 runs.

Earlier, Isa Guha picked up 3 for 24 with her medium pace as England restricted the Australians to 193 for 8 in their 50 overs. Lisa Keightley and Kate Blackwell carried Australia's innings, each making half-centuries, but with wickets tumbling regularly at the other end, there was little momentum to their performance.

Connor won the toss and chose to bowl first, and it was Connor herself who made the first breakthrough, as Belinda Clark was stumped for 10, the first of four dismissals by England's wicketkeeper, Claire Taylor. The other Clare Taylor then removed the dangerwoman Karen Rolton for 5, before Connor struck again to dismiss Lisa Sthalekar for a duck.

At 62 for 3, Australia were in some strife, but Keightley and Blackwell steadied the innings with a 43-run stand, before Keightley was run out for 58. Blackwell knuckled down, adding 61 for the fifth wicket with her twin sister, Alex, but Guha returned with a three-wicket burst to give England the upper hand at the half-way mark. But Australia's bowlers responded superbly to destroy England's hopes.

The two sides have three further one-day matches, the first of which is on Sunday. The second and final Test, which is the decider, begins on Wednesday August 24 at Worcester.