England Women enjoyed a fine start to their tour of Australia as the batters piled on the runs against a home A side.
Heather Knight led the way after Charlotte Edwards chose to bat, her 123 retired out the highest score in a close-of-play total of 362 for six.
Edwards herself also impressed with 77 and Lydia Greenway struck 79 to further boost the holders ahead of their Ashes campaign.
It did not take long for England’s skipper to signal her intentions, hitting the game’s first ball back past bowler Katelyn Fryett for a well-timed four.
The spinners, in particular, came in for punishment as Edwards peppered the boundary through the off side.
All the while, Knight was embarking upon the perfect innings as she operated largely behind a solid defence and looked to punish poor deliveries.
It was surprising when the pair’s 135-run stand came to an end, Edwards trapped lbw by Jess Jonassen.
Sarah Taylor, so impressive when England regained the Ashes last summer, could not capitalise on being dropped on one as she pulled Jonassen straight to midwicket for 10.
Knight endured no such troubles in passing three figures, the Shooting Stars ultimately relieved when she walked off under orders from England’s management.
That provided an opportunity for others to make an impact and Greenway, in particular, did – even if her innings was not the most fluent.
The number four battled impressively, though, amid Arran Brindle and Natalie Sciver producing good cameos.
Sciver looked in particularly good order as she ruthlessly put away any wayward deliveries in an eye-catching 30 that will have aided her hopes of a Test debut.
England did lose three late wickets – Sciver was bowled by Rachael Haynes and Greenway fell lbw to Nicole Bolton, who then had Jenny Gunn caught behind – but that did not take the gloss of a fine day for England.
Click here for images of day one.
Follow the Women’s Ashes ball-by-ball via the following media:
Live Scores: www.ecb.co.uk and www.cricket.com.au
Twitter: @ECB_cricket and @SouthernStars
Television: live stream at www.cricket.com.au
Radio: 5 Live Sports Extra, ABC Grandstand or online via www.cricket.com.au/live/audio-stream
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