(BBC) – England’s hopes of victory in the one-off Ashes Test were dented by the loss of five late wickets on day four.

The hosts slipped from 55-0 to 73-4 in pursuit of 268 at Trent Bridge, with Australia’s Ash Gardner taking three wickets.

England were 116-5 at stumps, with 152 still required in what would be the highest run chase in women’s Test history.

An inspired bowling performance earlier saw Australia all out for 257 – Sophie Ecclestone starring with 5-63 to give her a 10-wicket match haul.

Victory in the Test match is worth four points, which would be shared should it end in an unlikely draw.

Openers Emma Lamb and first-innings double centurion Tammy Beaumont took the attack to Australia before they were dismissed in consecutive overs – Beaumont caught at slip off spinner Gardner and Lamb lbw to Tahlia McGrath.

Nat Sciver-Brunt was caught going for an ambitious slog sweep before captain Heather Knight was pinned lbw by a delivery that kept low from Gardner.

Sophia Dunkley and Test debutant Danni Wyatt combined for a 37-run partnership but the former was caught behind off Kim Garth for 16 with three overs remaining in the day, swinging the game firmly in Australia’s favour.

Earlier, Australia resumed on 82-0 after England’s poor start with the ball late on day three, but made amends through Ecclestone’s brilliance combined with an inspired turnaround by the pace attack.

A fired-up Lauren Filer took two wickets before lunch, including Ellyse Perry for the second time in the match, before Australia’s middle order lost three wickets for three runs after lunch.
Captain Alyssa Healy thwarted England’s attack with a battling half-century but Ecclestone struck with the last two wickets.

England still have batting to come and will commit to their aggressive approach but are faced with Australia’s three spinners on a worn pitch which is starting to turn and offer uneven bounce.

Indefatigable Ecclestone gives England hope
After a mammoth 46-over spell in Australia’s first innings, there was concern over its impact on Ecclestone later in the game.

But with a second five-wicket haul in the space of three days the left-arm spinner proved there was nothing to worry about after all.

She toiled away with nagging accuracy and cunning variations for a further 30.5 overs, with each valuable wicket giving her a little more spark and energy to continue.

As Darcie Brown’s review for lbw was unsuccessful for Australia’s last wicket – Ecclestone’s fifth – the spinner charged across Trent Bridge’s outfield, soaking in the applause and hugs from her team-mates.

Credit also to Kate Cross, who took two wickets with a dislocated thumb after dropping a catch, and Filer, whose raw pace once again proved a key point of difference at Knight’s disposal.
Australia played defensively and with little clarity as they unexpectedly collapsed from 151-2 to 257 all out.

But despite England and Ecclestone’s brilliance, the hosts’ loose bowling the previous evening, which gifted Australia a 92-run lead, could ultimately prove decisive.