Australia denied Canberra win after late English resilience

After a promising late counter-attacking blitz from England lost its momentum, Kate Cross and the English tail were resolute in defence, denying Alana King and Australia the final wicket in the match's final moments.

The draw means the tourists are still just a win behind the Aussies in the multi-format series, with the Australian win in the first T20I the only result in the series setting the teams apart.

England threatened to steal the victory and claim a series lead in the final session, with Heather Knight and Nat Sciver swinging the match seemingly in England's favour.

The pair made 48 and 58 respectively, and were helped by the aggressive Sophia Dunkley, who finished with 45 off just 32 balls, scoring her first 30 in just 15 deliveries.

Some astute captaincy from Meg Lanning and executed plans from the bowling attack curtailed the late assault, with late wickets striking down any late ambitions.

King was the pick of the bowlers late for Australia, taking two wickets and effecting the run out of Anya Shrubsole off her own bowling.

Lanning handed King the ball for the final over, though Cross played out the final six balls in spite of the pressure in the field.

Earlier, Australia declared with a 256-run lead, giving themselves just 48 overs to bowl out their opposition, and with the threat of inclement weather looming. Australia built their lead with the bat through a mix of early measure and late aggression, resuming on a precarious 12/2.

Less than two weeks after breaking her jaw training in the nets, Beth Mooney brought up a half-century, though was assisted by a missed chance in the English slip cordon.

Ellyse Perry was also spared, though fell for 41 to the left-arm orthodox of Sophie Ecclestone. Mooney would eventually fall on the last ball before lunch, trapped in front by Charlie Dean for her maiden Test wicket.

The dismissal meant Tahlia McGrath walked out with captain Lanning after the drinks break, as the Australians began to up the ante. Lanning (12) fell to Katherine Brunt for the English quick's ninth wicket in the Test match, and Ash Gardner picked up the run rate with a run-a-ball 38 to set up Australia's declaration.

With the series on the line for England, Tammy Beaumont made her intentions known in spite of the nervous six-over period before tea, reaching 18 not out in just 20 deliveries.

Lauren Winfield-Hill was a little more circumspect, and after losing her partner to McGrath's first delivery of her opening spell, became the foil for the countering Knight.

Knight looked busy at the crease, unperturbed by the loss of Winfield-Hill (33) to Perry, with Rachael Haynes taking a second catch.

The wickets did little to stem England's flow of runs, Nat Sciver joining Knight for the late push as rain stayed away. Sciver hit seven boundaries and reached her half-century at better a run-a-ball, and the bat-raise sent a shiver through the Australian camp now seemingly behind in the game. The nerves of the hosts were made no better when the big-hitting Sophia Dunkley entered, hitting two consecutive sixes off Annabel Sutherland to race to 30 not out off just 15 deliveries.

Sciver was bogged down by a clever mix of bowling and captaincy, and the right-hander was unable to convert on a short Sutherland delivery, hitting the ball to Lanning at square-leg on 58. Amy Jones met the same fate on just four, and Katherine Brunt walked out at No.7 with the tourists needing 25 runs off the final five overs.

Alana King was entrusted with bowling responsibilities despite the threat of Dunkley, and Lanning's faith was paid back in spades when her leg-spinner forced a mistimed shot. Unable to place wide of Mooney in the deep, Dunkley found the hands of the Australian opener, who took a calculated tumbling catch.

On debut, King kept her cool and sent England into a spin in her next over. Running out Shrubsole and finding the top edge of Charlie Dean, England were forced to retreat.

Batting with Sophie Ecclestone, Cross managed to negotiate the penultimate over, hitting the final ball for a single, before playing out the final over with relative calm.