Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen was the star on the first day of the one and only test in Canterbury as she ended the day on 95 not out. The 22-year-old, playing in her test debut, helped the visitors fight back from 99-5 to be on 268-8 at close of play.
The English bowlers started well with Katherine Brunt especially looking threatening. But Australian openers Elyse Villani and Nicole Bolton were able to weather the storm and then looked to play their shots, reaching the 50 mark after sixteen overs. But the hosts got the breakthrough, Anya Shrubsole having Villani caught by Heather Knight at first slip for a well made 33. That wicket brought captain Meg Lanning, who had been in great form having hit 104 and 85 in the last two ODI's, to the middle. But Shrubsole didn't let her settle and managed to get the prize wicket, out the same way as Villani, caught by Knight in the slips. Lunch was taken not long after and, although the two quick wickets give England the upper hand, Lanning was replaced by another in form batter, Ellyse Perry.
After the break, Shrubsole continued to be dangerous and bowled Bolton for 36 with a ball that nipped back into the left hander. Brunt and Shrubsole were bowling well together, both asking questions of the Australian batters, and it was the latter again who took the important wicket of Perry. Getting good seam movement, Shrubsole brought the ball back into batsman and it was caught behind by Sarah Taylor. England were in control and the two new batters, Alex Blackwell and Jess Jonassen, looked tentative and Brunt took advantage having the former trapped in front lbw. It was possibly going down leg side, although without hawk-eye its difficult to tell, but that was no less than Brunt deserved for her great bowling early on. Jonassen and new batter Alyssa Healy steadied the ship for the visitors, the latter subject to a dropped catch by Kate Cross at point, but otherwise comfortably scoring regular runs. At tea, Australia were 162-5 with the Jonassen-Healy partnership worth 63 runs.
In the second over after tea, Laura Marsh made the breakthrough and had Healy out lbw for 39. But not long after, Jonassen reached her half century, her first in any format for Australia and in her first ever test match, scoring four boundaries in the 93 balls she faced to get there. Cross struck next, having Sarah Coyte caught behind by Taylor off a thin edge, which brought Megan Schutt to the middle and England put lots of close catchers around in an attempt to wrap up the last few wickets.
Not long after Australia reached the 200 mark, Marsh struck again as Schutt played all round a straight one and was out lbw for 11. That brought Kristen Beams, also making her test debut, to the crease and she seemed nervous taking 17 balls before getting off the mark with a single. The new ball was immediately taken, with Charlotte Edwards bringing Brunt and Shrubsole back into the attack. The ninth wicket partnership proved difficult to break and Australia looked to be edging to a competitive score, with the match starting to swing in their direction as they passed 250.
At close of play Jonassen sits on 95 not out and Beams 24 not out, with Australia having rebuilt well to end on 268-8. There seemed to be a lack of agressivness from England towards the end, almost not wanting to bowl the visitors out as that would mean having to bat a few overs in the fading light. That allowed Australia to creep to a very respectable total and will make it difficult for the hosts.
Day 1 highlights from the England Cricket YouTube channel.