Sports world daily: Gardner gives Australia the edge in Ashes Test; Alcaraz claims Queen’s title

Ashleigh Gardner claimed three wickets towards the end of day four to leave England stuttering at 116-5 in their chase of 268.

Carlos Alcaraz returned to the top of the ATP rankings after winning his first grass court title at Queen’s on Sunday.

Petra Kvitova, Jelena Ostapenko and Alexander Bublik prepared for Wimbledon by winning titles at Berlin, Birmingham and Halle respectively.

Here’s a look at the key stories from international sporting events through the day for June 26, 2023:

Australia edge ahead in Women’s Ashes Test

Ashleigh Gardner left England in a spin to give Australia the advantage in the lone Women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

Gardner captured three top-order wickets as England reached the close of Sunday’s fourth day on 116-5.

That left England needing a further 152 to reach a victory target of 268 on Monday’s final day.

Australia require just five more wickets having removed England’s top order, several of whom – including first-innings double-century maker Tammy Beaumont – succumbed to Gardner as the off-spinner returned 3-33 in nine overs.

Gardner, 26, also dismissed star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt and England captain Heather Knight before stumps.

Earlier, England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone took her second five-wicket haul of the Test to finish with the remarkable match figures of 10-192 from 77.1 overs.

But she could only...

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