END OF OVER:20 | 16 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS-W: 183/8 (4 runs required, RR: 9.15)
- Ellyse Perry51 (27b)
- Megan Schutt0 (1b)
- Sophie Ecclestone4-0-35-2
- Lauren Bell4-0-45-1
9.24pm: So England's win keeps the Ashes alive, and we head to Lord's this weekend with a T20I series decider to consider as well. A great night south of the river, with a big crowd in and a tense, topsy-turvy game. Thanks for tuning in tonight. This is Matt signing off on behalf of Sudarshanan and Chandan.
Time for the presentations. Danni Wyatt is Player of the Match. She says: "Delighted with the win and to contribute. Proper team effort in front of a massive crowd. Hopefully we get another one at Lord's. We did really well to get 186. It's T20. You've just got to keep being brave. Once it was through the infield, it was four. The crowds have been so good. They've really got behind us."
Alyssa Healy: "I'm not sure we were great in all three facets so to get three runs shy was a good effort. We bowled a heap of extras and let ourselves down in the chase. We're allowed to lose games of cricket. We didn't execute as we would have liked. The wicket was outstanding, a beautiful batting wicket. Our pacers did an amazing job. To have 20-odd thousand people watching is super special."
Heather Knight: "What a game. Packed house at The Oval. I took a look around at the end and soaked it up. We got over that boogie of getting the win. Still got more in the tank and areas where we can get better. Danni managed to get balls from outside leg through point. Her maturity and experience came to fruition. She doesn't get the credit she deserves for being a really smart cricketer. Good striking by Sophie at the end. Deano can bowl at all stages of the innings. We definitely think that is our strength. Really nice to see Nat back and able to contribute a little bit [with the ball]. To win at only 80% is a very good effort. One game at a time. The equation is very simple. Hopefully another good crowd at Lord's for the next game. We've really felt the support and people on our side."
9.11pm: England's first Ashes win of the summer - men's or women's - and it comes in front of 20,000 at The Oval. England get on the board in this multi-format series and keep it alive. Australia now lead 6-2 but any win against this Australian juggernaut is a significant achievement in its own right. This is their first defeat in normal time - i.e. excluding Super Overs - in T20Is since March 2021. England will be grateful to Danni Wyatt in particular for her 76, but Australia will rue an unusually sloppy performance with the ball and in the field - especially after England's collapse in the middle overs.
Hypocaust: "This is the first time Australia women have fallen short in a T20I run chase since losing to India at the SCG in the opening match of the T20 World Cup on 21 Feb 2020."
Raj Deshpande: "Perry shouldn't have taken the single off the first ball. She should've sacrificed that single in order to keep the strike."
jimmy: "Perry taking that single on the first ball of over 20 robbed Aussie of their final chance to steal the match. Great knock by her, but that was a bad mistake."
Schutt is Australia's No. 10. Three sixes will do it.
JL Jonassen c Capsey b Ecclestone 6 (5m 3b 1x4 0x6) SR: 200.00
Who else? Sophie Ecclestone will close the game out, with 20 to win off the last 6 balls.
END OF OVER:19 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS-W: 167/7 (20 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.78, RRR: 20.00)
- Jess Jonassen6 (2b)
- Ellyse Perry36 (23b)
- Lauren Bell4-0-45-1
- Charlie Dean4-0-41-1
The batters keep coming for Australia. Jess Jonassen at No. 9. But Australia need 27 off 8... Bell goes around the wicket to the leftie.
G Wareham b Bell 19 (13m 11b 1x4 2x6) SR: 172.72
Lauren Bell. That's a massive call from Knight! Ecclestone will bowl the 20th.
Ifti: "First six in 41 T20Is for wareham and what a time to hit it twice "
END OF OVER:18 | 19 Runs | AUS-W: 156/6 (31 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.66, RRR: 15.50)
- Ellyse Perry33 (21b)
- Georgia Wareham19 (9b)
- Charlie Dean4-0-41-1
- Sophie Ecclestone3-0-20-1
Wareham has made me eat my words. 19 off the over, and Australia are going to take this deep.
How does Perry play this? Does she take the strike or look for the boundary option?
Dean to finish her spell. Wareham has the strike and her main task is to ensure Perry faces as many of the 18 balls remaining as possible.
END OF OVER:17 | 10 Runs | AUS-W: 137/6 (50 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.05, RRR: 16.66)
- Georgia Wareham2 (4b)
- Ellyse Perry31 (20b)
- Sophie Ecclestone3-0-20-1
- Sarah Glenn4-0-27-2