Australia edge England in Women's Ashes opener

The holders claim a narrow two-wicket in Leicester after a thrilling start to the series as Alyssa Healy hits 66

Grace Road: England Women 177, Australia Women 158 for 7 - Australia Women win by three wickets

Australia held off a late England comeback to clinch the opening Women's Ashes one-day international in Leicester.

Bowled out for just 177 after being put in to bat, Nat Sciver hit 64 to give their lightweight score some respectability.

Alyssa Healy struck 66 to put Australia on the brink but Sophie Ecclestone took 3-34 to give the hosts hope.

However, the holders kept their cool and five wides off Katherine Brunt secured the win which gives the tourists the initiative in the multi-format series.

Amid the men's campaign to win a maiden World Cup, the women began their attempts to contribute to English cricket's greatest summer by winning back the Ashes.

^{Nat Sciver gave the England innings substance}

Having lost to Australia in 2015 and drawn the series in 2016/17 this summer has been described as a revenge mission for England, while for Australia it was another opportunity to underline their status as the No.1 nation in the world.

And another clinic looked likely when they reduced England to 19 for 4 inside 31 balls of an innings which quickly slipped into a disaster.

Amy Jones was caught behind for a duck, Tammy Beaumount was castled by Perry, Megan Schutt bowled Sarah Taylor for a single and Heather Knight was trapped lbw first ball.

Fran Wilson and Nat Sciver rebuilt the innings but with 44 on the board, a fifth wicket fell when the former got a shocking decision, given out lbw off Jess Jonassen when replays clearly showed the ball strike the glove.

A fifty partnership between Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole held off Australia until Delissa Kimmince got in on the act with another dismissal via lbw.

Sciver went to her 12th ODI half-century but was out for 64 when Jonassen got her second wicket. Laura Marsh (24) and Sophie Ecclestone (27) pushed England to 177 all out, a total which looked well below par in this the opening game of the series.

Though Australia nurdled their way into the ascendency a constant flow of wickets kept England on their tails in the chase.

Just 16 was on the board when Nicole Bolton edged Shrubsole behind for just two. Captain Meg Lanning soon followed after hitting a four and one six as Brunt had her lbw.

Perhaps the key moment in the contest came just four overs later when Shrubsole dropped Healy when on 40. Ellyse Perry did fall, however, stumped magnificently by Taylor who displayed razor-like reactions to complete a fine dismissal.

Hope they became belief as England reduced Australia to 105 for 5 as Rachael Hayes was followed back to the hutch by Healy, who found Wilson out in the deep for a fine 66, but a series of missed opportunities hindered their progress.

^{Sophie Ecclestone's heroics gave England hope}

Ecclestone, who has already done for Haynes, added to her tally by having Ashleigh Gardner and Jess Jonassen out with another 11 still needed for victory with only two wickets left.

But Australia held their nerve and when Kimmince smashed a four through mid-wicket five wides off Brunt provided an unsatisfactory and anticlimactic end to proceedings after a thrilling contest.

Australia take two points from the opening game ahead of the second ODI, a day/night game back in Leicester on Thursday.