Australia have picked up the key English wicket of Arran Brindle on the stroke of tea in a so far evenly contested women’s Ashes Test at the WACA Ground.
England had done a terrific job to recover from 3-32 to be 4-154 in the final over before tea on the opening day.
But Rene Farrell struck just before the interval, removing Brindle for a well-made 68 leaving the visitors at 5-154 heading into the final session.
Australia dismissed opener Heather Knight (14), No.3 Sarah Taylor (1) and captain Charlotte Edwards (17) in the space of six overs to leave the visitors 3-69 at lunch.
Brindle and Natalie Sciver steadied well in the middle session following the loss of Lydia Greenway (22), who was bowled by Ellyse Perry.
The pair put on a 58-run partnership, Farrell ending it with the last ball before tea.
After a 28-run opening stand by Edwards and Knight, Holly Ferling came on to bowl for Australia and picked up the first wicket of the series when she had Knight caught in the slips by Jess Cameron for 14.
Just four balls later England lost Taylor when she was trapped in front by Perry, who bowled a terrific seven-over opening spell in 30C plus temperatures in Perth.
Edwards was given out lbw off the bowling of Sarah Coyte.
The match is the only Test of the Ashes series which will include three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches with the team compiling the most points being awarded the Ashes.
The Test is worth six points for a victory while each of the one-dayers and Twenty20 matches are worth two points.