Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone survived 13 balls between them to help England salvage a draw after a topsy-turvy day of Test cricket in Canberra. To claim the Ashes, England now need to win all three ODIs as the scoreline currently reads 6-4 in the favour of Australia.
Asked to chase 257 in 48 overs, England came out all guns blazing until a flurry of quick wickets forced them to exercise restraint. Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield-Hill set the tone with a 52-run opening stand.
Beaumont struck seven fours in a 42-ball 36 before falling prey to Tahlia McGrath. Heather Knight then carried on from where she left off in the first innings, forging two crucial stands with Winfield-Hill and Nat Sciver. Knight eventually fell for 48, leg-before off Darcie Brown.
Sophia Dunkley joined Sciver, and the duo added 52 in six overs to take England within 40 runs off the target. Sciver completed her fifty with a single off Annabel Sutherland, whose next two balls were smoked over the rope by Dunkley. After two quiet overs, Sciver holed to Meg Lanning off a short-pitch delivery from Sutherland.
Alana King then dismissed Dunkley (45) to bring the hosts back into the game. Charlotte Dean's dismissal reduced them to 244/9, but Ecclestone and Cross played out time.
Earlier in the day, Australia declared their second innings on 216/7 to force for a win. Resuming on 12/2, Ellyse Perry (41) and Beth Mooney (63) added 91 for the third wicket before Ecclestone got Perry. McGrath (34) and Ash Gardner (38) too chipped in with vital contributions.
Australia 337/9 decl. (Meg Lanning 93; Katherine Brunt 5-60) and 216/7 (Beth Mooney 63; Katherine Brunt 3-24) drew with England 297 (Heather Knight 168*; Ellyse Perry 2-57) and 245/9 (Nat Sciver 58; Annabel Sutherland 3-69). Player of the Match: Heather Knight.