The Ashes: England beat Australia by five wickets at Lord's to win T20 leg 2-1

England beat Australia by five wickets in a rain-affected third T20 of the multi-format Ashes at Lord's, inflicting a first series defeat on the world champions since 2017.

The result also narrows the overall points-based Ashes scoreline to 6-4 with three one-day internationals remaining, each worth two points.

England were set a revised target of 119 in 14 overs and reached it with four balls remaining, set up by Alice Capsey's electric 46 from 23 balls.

They suffered a late wobble, losing Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight with just two runs needed, before Danielle Gibson emphatically reverse-swept her first ball for four.

The match also set a new record attendance for a women's bilateral fixture in England, with 21,610 packing inside Lord's.

Earlier, Australia finished their 20 overs with 156-7 before rain delayed the start of England's innings.

On a slow pitch, Australia's batters struggled to get going and trudged to 98-4 after 14 overs before Ellyse Perry's 34 and Grace Harris' 25 pushed the visitors to a competitive total.

England rued some missed chances in the field, dropping five catches - though Charlie Dean's effort in her follow-through to dismiss Beth Mooney on eight was particularly difficult.

But the two in the final over were simple, and arguably handed Australia the momentum at the halfway stage.

Unfazed by the delay and the difficult revised target on a slow, wet pitch, England opener Danni Wyatt led a rapid start with six fours in her 26, followed by Capsey's onslaught which included four fours and two sixes as she lit up a raucous Lord's.

The 18-year-old was supported by all-rounder Sciver-Brunt, who hit a run-a-ball 25, and was visibly distraught when she holed out off seamer Megan Schutt.

The one-day international series starts at Bristol on Wednesday 12 July at 13:00 BST.

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Capsey shines on the biggest stage

Coming into this game, Capsey was under pressure with just 17 runs in her last five T20 innings.

And the incredulity of Australia's dominance in women's cricket is highlighted by the fact she was just 12 years old when they last lost a series in any format.

England's target of 119 in 14 overs meant they had to attack almost from the first ball, and that seemed to help Capsey, who was able to free her arms and play with fearless intent.

The world's best bowlers were heaved over the ropes with trademark power - she particularly enjoyed Jess Jonassen's left-arm spin - and each boundary received a grateful roar from the crowd.

Capsey had the perfect companion in the calm Sciver-Brunt, though her dismissal at the end of the 13th over sparked a slight panic - an Australia comeback is never out of the question, such is their strength.

But Gibson's winning runs, scored from a reverse-swept boundary, exemplified England's positivity and intent to attack.

Since losing the first T20 at Edgbaston, every game has been must-win for England but they have relished the pressure, and for the first time in six years, Australia are in a fight.

'Australia no longer unbeatable' - what they said

Test Match Special commentator Henry Moeran: "Is this showing that there might be a shift at the top of the women's game?

"Yes, Australia are still comfortably the best side but they are no longer the unbeatable side."

Ex-Australia batter Alex Blackwell: "Australia will be stunned by back-to-back losses. They haven't felt that for a very long time.

"They just didn't put enough runs on the board. The wicket was a little bit slower and they didn't adjust as well as they perhaps could have.

"The rain may have played into England's favour but wow, what a performance, especially from Alice Capsey. It was an entertaining knock."