Beth Morgan and Jenny Gunn led an England fightback after their top order folded on day two of the Women's Ashes Test at New Road.

The hosts had been cast into trouble in the one-off Test when they slipped to 59 for five, after dismissing Australia earlier in the day for 309.

Morgan (23 not out) and Gunn (34no) steadied the ship, however, with an unbeaten 57-run partnership to safely guide England to 116 for five when rain ended play early.

Australia had resumed the day on 271 for seven, with their final three wickets adding a further 38 runs to surpass a 300-mark that had looked beyond them yesterday.

The tourists had themselves been forced to battle back from 28 for five before a 229-run partnership between Jodie Fields (139) and Rachael Haynes (98) rescued the situation.

England opening bowler Katherine Brunt had been the destroyer-in-chief when she tore through the top order before removing Fields late in the day.

And Brunt picked up where she left off this morning to trap Lauren Ebsary lbw, her fourth such decision of the innings, on way to figures of six for 69.

Nicky Shaw then took the final two Australian wickets to finish with three for 67.

England's response was immediately undermined as they lost both openers, Caroline Atkins (two) and Lydia Greenway (five), during an impressive opening spell from Rene Farrell.

Worse was to come for England as they then lost key players Claire Taylor (10) and Charlotte Edwards (10) with the score on 28.

Sarah Taylor then strode to the crease and batted confidently despite the situation to hit 21 from 26 balls before she was out lbw to Ellyse Perry.

At 58 for five England's hopes of retaining the Ashes looked to be slipping from their grasp and Morgan and Gunn responded with a gritty stand to haul them back.

Morgan was particularly watchful as she reached the close unbeaten on 23, after facing 123 balls in more than two hours at the crease, while Gunn had contributed 34 from 75 balls.

Farrell finished the day with impressively economical figures of two for 11 from her 15 overs.