Cricket: Broadbent and Jones have all the answers

England 414 Australia 393-5

JOANNE BROADBENT and Melanie Jones scored memorable centuries to give Australia the whip hand on the third day of the first Women's Test at Guildford yesterday.

At the close the tourists were 21 behind England's first innings total of 414.

Broadbent displayed some elegant stroke play in reaching a century in 232 minutes off 228 balls and scoring 12 fours. She was still there at the close, unbeaten on 146.

Jones, with whom she shared a partnership of 220, was finally run out for 131.

Australia made steady progress in morning session but there was little sign that they would have such a fruitful day with the bat.

England's Charlotte Edwards put the home side briefly back in charge, grabbing two wickets in one over. She took a smart return catch to dismiss Lisa Keightley for 56, then trapped Karen Rolton leg-before when she had made four.

But after suffering anxiety at 140 for 3, Australians came right back into the contest as Broadbent and Jones made it a frustrating day for the England bowlers.