England come up just short as they start their World Cup defence with a defeat - but what a game!

Rachael Haynes' hundred helped Australia up to 310-3 to set England a record chase. It was always going to be tough but thanks to Nat Sciver's magnificent unbeaten 109 they pushed the Aussies all the way.

An emotional 24 hours for everyone involved in cricket rather fittingly ends with Australia winning a thriller.

If you decided staying up through the night wasn't for you then Stephan Shemilt's match report will tell you everything you need to know about a pulsating encounter in Hamilton.

Australia captain Meg Lanning: "We did well getting to 310 there, it was really tough batting early on. It seemed to flatten out as the night went on and slide on nicely. We certainly have things to work on but it is nice to get a win.

"Jess Jonassen wanted the ball [for the last over], she's bowled big overs for us before and delivered so I had full faith in her to bowl well. It was clutch at the end, she knew what she was doing with a clear plan."

Stuart Wonden: Great effort but ultimately lost by less runs than the difference in extras - 21 wides cost them

Francis Edwards: England should have got over the line then. Very heavy dew, ball was skidding on quite a lot. They just don’t have that winning mentality.

Erling L: Even if England didn't get there in the end I am glad I got up early to listen to this game. Great start to the Saturday.

England captain Heather Knight: "The way we played in The Ashes probably wasn't a true representation of how we want to go about things so to see how aggressive we were, how we ran - and what an innings from Nat Sciver, it deserved to be on the winning side, didn't it?

"But lots of positives to take from it, it's not the end of the world. We lost the first game of the 2017 World Cup. Really pleased with how the batters went about their work."

Lydia Greenway
Ex-England batter on Test Match Special

It is disappointing that England begin their campaign with a loss, but to follow up that game yesterday with this one is just fantastic. Australia were very good, they played the conditions well with the bat, and with the ball I am sure there will be areas they will feel they were exposed in and their fielding was not always great

I don’t think they are unbeatable, we have seen a few chinks in their armour and England should take some solace from that.

England can take a lot from it. Beaumont was brilliant, Knight got going and Sciver batted superbly. It’s a good place to be in, plenty of positives to take.

Rachael Haynes was superb for Australia, making a steady start before really accelerating after reaching her fifty as she went on to make 130 from 131 balls...

Australia batter Rachael Haynes: England were fantastic today, they really took the game to us so it was fantastic to start with a win. It was nice to post a 300-plus score and we needed every one of those.

England pushed them all the way, Nat Sciver scored an outstanding hundred but they come up just short.

A record 311 for victory was always going to be tough, especially against this Australia side. Defeat for the defending champions against the tournament favourites - but that was some chase.

Image source, Getty Images

Just a single to long-on for Ecclestone and, avoiding extras, that is game over. England need 14 from two balls.

Jonassen to Ecclestone and it's a dot ball, good fielding off her own bowling.

Lydia Greenway
Ex-England batter on Test Match Special

I have no idea how Jess Jonassen has caught this, she looked so casual in doing it. The reaction on her face is something else, but you have to feel sorry for Katherine Brunt.

Swing and a miss from Sciver but they scamper through for a leg bye.

Jess Jonassen will bowl the last over.

Dropped catchpublished at 08:06 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

08:06 GMT 5 March 2022

Eng 295-6 (Target: 311)

What a moment that could be! Sciver mistimes the shot as she tries to hit over the offside again and it is dropped at mid-off!

England need 16 from six balls!

Dave Newell: What a run chase this is! C’mon England!

Brunt advances first ball and hits out to deep midwicket for two after good running from Sciver. A single pulled square brings Sciver on strike.

Four! Sciver picks the slower ball and finds the gap through extra cover!

England need 19 from nine balls.

Image source, Getty Images

Singles from the last two balls of the over.

England need 26 from 12 balls. How are your nerves!?

100 for Sciverpublished at 47.4 overs

47.4 overs

Eng 283-6 (Target: 311)

Nat Sciver goes to a brilliant century! She gets there with a deft shot, moving across her stumps and paddling it away fine for four!

What an innings. England are giving themselves every chance here!