England took four wickets in that final session - Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath - but the hosts still closed on 327-7.
Those dropped catches of Lanning on 14 and Haynes on 44 were crucial. The pair put on 169 for the fourth wicket, making 93 and 86 respectively.
Katherine Brunt was the standout for England with 3-52. Nat Sciver took an excellent 3-41 too.
Australia rebuild after losing Lanning & Haynes
Australia are tightening their grip on this Test again.
England had an opening when they removed Meg Lanning (93) and Rachael Haynes (86) in the space of four balls but another partnership has halted their momentum.
A unbroken stand between Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath is now worth more than fifty is taking Australia towards 300. Gardner in particular, has been aggressive.
England have just taken the new ball, however. They'll hope for a couple more wickets in the hour that remains today.
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Sciver & Brunt hit back for England
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Well, well!
From nowhere England have removed Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes.
The pair had put on 169 and looked certain to notch maiden Test centuries but fell to Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt in the space of four balls.
Lanning edged Sciver to slip for 93 and Haynes fell for 86, gloving a rising ball from Brunt behind.
Australia are 213-5 with around two hours' of play to go today.
Australia in command at tea
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That was unquestionably Australia's session.
Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning batted throughout to add 120 runs without the loss of a wicket.
Australia, who were 4-2 and 43-3 earlier in the day, are very much in control at 199-3 at tea.
England have not helped themselves, dropping both batters and bowling increasingly waywardly after a good start.
It feels like we're watching a race between Haynes and Lanning to see which can get to their century first. Haynes is 82 not out and captain Lanning unbeaten on 84.
Haynes & Lanning punish England drops
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Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning are nudging Australia into the ascendancy.
Both have been dropped by England and both have now passed 50.
Their unbeaten partnership is now worth 91 with the hosts 135-3, having been 4-2 and 43-3 earlier in this opening day.
It's drinks in the afternoon session.
England drop Haynes as Australia pass 100
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Hmmm.
Australia have ticked their score onto 102-3 in the half an hour since lunch with Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning combining for an unbeaten fifty partnership.
Having dropped Lanning in the final over of the first session, England have now put down Haynes on 44.
It was a tougher chance, Nat Sciver going to her left off Katherine Brunt, but one that you'd fancy England would expect to take.
Australia will retain the Ashes if they win this Test. England can't afford to waste chances.
England on top after first session
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England will be pretty happy at lunch as Australia end the first session of this crucial Ashes Test 79-3.
After winning the toss, the tourists' seamers have found plenty of movement through the air and Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole and Nat Sciver have taken a wicket apiece.
When Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney fell in the first four overs Australia were 4-2 and that became 43-3 when Sciver claimed the massive wicket of Ellyse Perry.
But, and it's a big but, Aussie captain Meg Lanning was dropped on the stroke of lunch by Heather Knight at slip off the bowling of Sophie Ecclestone.
Could that prove to be a crucial moment?
Australia three down as Perry falls
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Big moment!
Ellyse Perry is out. Having scored 216 not out, 116 and 76 not out in her last three Ashes innings the Australia superstar all-rounder has been caught off the top edge from a Nat Sciver bouncer.
Unsurprisingly England are delighted.
That wicket leaves Australia 43-3.
England strike early in Canberra
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England have made a strong start to the one-off Ashes Test against Australia.
Their experienced duo Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole delivered again, removing Alyssa Healy for a duck and Beth Mooney for three.
Australia, who will retain the Ashes with a win this week, were 4-2 in the fourth over.
Since then Australia have battled well to reach 42-2 after an hour.
The figure of Ellyse Perry, who is averaging a ridiculous 488 in her four Tests since the start of the last Ashes in Australia, is looming large.
England win the toss
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Good evening! Welcome to our coverage of day one of the Women's Ashes Test in Canberra.
England have won the toss and will bowl first at Manuka Oval.
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
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Latest PostAustralia end day one on top
That has to be Australia's day.
England took four wickets in that final session - Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath - but the hosts still closed on 327-7.
Those dropped catches of Lanning on 14 and Haynes on 44 were crucial. The pair put on 169 for the fourth wicket, making 93 and 86 respectively.
Katherine Brunt was the standout for England with 3-52. Nat Sciver took an excellent 3-41 too.
Australia rebuild after losing Lanning & Haynes
Australia are tightening their grip on this Test again.
England had an opening when they removed Meg Lanning (93) and Rachael Haynes (86) in the space of four balls but another partnership has halted their momentum.
A unbroken stand between Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath is now worth more than fifty is taking Australia towards 300. Gardner in particular, has been aggressive.
England have just taken the new ball, however. They'll hope for a couple more wickets in the hour that remains today.
Sciver & Brunt hit back for England
Well, well!
From nowhere England have removed Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes.
The pair had put on 169 and looked certain to notch maiden Test centuries but fell to Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt in the space of four balls.
Lanning edged Sciver to slip for 93 and Haynes fell for 86, gloving a rising ball from Brunt behind.
Australia are 213-5 with around two hours' of play to go today.
Australia in command at tea
That was unquestionably Australia's session.
Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning batted throughout to add 120 runs without the loss of a wicket.
Australia, who were 4-2 and 43-3 earlier in the day, are very much in control at 199-3 at tea.
England have not helped themselves, dropping both batters and bowling increasingly waywardly after a good start.
It feels like we're watching a race between Haynes and Lanning to see which can get to their century first. Haynes is 82 not out and captain Lanning unbeaten on 84.
Haynes & Lanning punish England drops
Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning are nudging Australia into the ascendancy.
Both have been dropped by England and both have now passed 50.
Their unbeaten partnership is now worth 91 with the hosts 135-3, having been 4-2 and 43-3 earlier in this opening day.
It's drinks in the afternoon session.
England drop Haynes as Australia pass 100
Hmmm.
Australia have ticked their score onto 102-3 in the half an hour since lunch with Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning combining for an unbeaten fifty partnership.
Having dropped Lanning in the final over of the first session, England have now put down Haynes on 44.
It was a tougher chance, Nat Sciver going to her left off Katherine Brunt, but one that you'd fancy England would expect to take.
Australia will retain the Ashes if they win this Test. England can't afford to waste chances.
England on top after first session
England will be pretty happy at lunch as Australia end the first session of this crucial Ashes Test 79-3.
After winning the toss, the tourists' seamers have found plenty of movement through the air and Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole and Nat Sciver have taken a wicket apiece.
When Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney fell in the first four overs Australia were 4-2 and that became 43-3 when Sciver claimed the massive wicket of Ellyse Perry.
But, and it's a big but, Aussie captain Meg Lanning was dropped on the stroke of lunch by Heather Knight at slip off the bowling of Sophie Ecclestone.
Could that prove to be a crucial moment?
Australia three down as Perry falls
Big moment!
Ellyse Perry is out. Having scored 216 not out, 116 and 76 not out in her last three Ashes innings the Australia superstar all-rounder has been caught off the top edge from a Nat Sciver bouncer.
Unsurprisingly England are delighted.
That wicket leaves Australia 43-3.
England strike early in Canberra
England have made a strong start to the one-off Ashes Test against Australia.
Their experienced duo Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole delivered again, removing Alyssa Healy for a duck and Beth Mooney for three.
Australia, who will retain the Ashes with a win this week, were 4-2 in the fourth over.
Since then Australia have battled well to reach 42-2 after an hour.
The figure of Ellyse Perry, who is averaging a ridiculous 488 in her four Tests since the start of the last Ashes in Australia, is looming large.
England win the toss
Good evening! Welcome to our coverage of day one of the Women's Ashes Test in Canberra.
England have won the toss and will bowl first at Manuka Oval.
Australia: Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Darcie Brown.
England: Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver, Sophia Dunkley, Amy Jones (wk), Katherine Brunt, Charlie Dean, Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross.