Australia crush England to close in on regaining Women's Ashes

Australia stand on the brink of regaining the Women's Ashes as England were bowled out for just 101 in their second innings to slump to defeat by 161 runs at Canterbury. Ellyse Perry finished with figures of 6 for 32 as the tourists claiming victory in the standalone Test match.

The emphatic victory gives Australia eight points to England's two heading into the three T20 matches, requiring just one win to reclaim the urn for the first time since 2011. England must win all three limited-overs games, with two points on offer in each, to draw the series but they must regroup after a woeful batting display.

After declaring on 156 for 6, with debutant Jess Jonassen following up her first innings 99 with a brisk half-century, Australia set England 262 to win the Test – a total no team in the history of women's Test cricket had chased successfully. The hosts were rapidly reduced to 29 for 5 with Sarah Taylor making a pair, as Perry ripped through the top order.

Lydia Greenway showed some resistance and guided England beyond the tea interval without further causes for alarm but she was soon dismissed in embarrassing circumstances, going to duck under a Perry bouncer and seeing the ball clatter into her leg stump. The wicket summed up the England innings and it opened the floodgates to a crushing Australia win.

England's remaining wickets fell in the space of 39 balls, with Perry finishing with match figures of 9 for 74 as Australia claimed their first Test win in England since 2001. Charlotte Edwards's team can still keep hold of the Ashes but they must have no margin for error in the three upcoming T20 matches.

"It was nice to come out after tea and bowl like we did and finish like we did," Perry told Sky Sports. "I thought Meg bowled really well before tea, it was nice to come out and finish it off quickly. I think we bowled well across the team today. There wasn't too much movement today, I don't usually bowl like that but it was indicative of how the game went.

"We go to Ireland next and play three T20s against them which will be a great warm up for the rest of the series. Winning this Test match marks us down as having a great advantage. We'll enjoy it tonight but we'll look forward to T20s now."