Summary

  • England win by two wickets to level Women's Ashes with two to play

  • Skipper Knight's unbeaten 75 anchors England, who lose regular wickets

  • Cross hammers 19 at number 10 to allay late nerves

  • Beaumont (47 off 42) and Capsey (40 off 34) get England off to fast start

  • Mooney top-scores for Australia with unbeaten 81

  • England drop five chances and miss chance to stump Mooney

  • Australia had won 41 of their last 42 completed ODIs

  • Two ODIs to play: 16 July (Southampton) & 18 July (Taunton)

  1. Eng 221-6published at 39.1 overs

    Target 264

    The crowd is getting a little nervy at Bristol as this game heads towards a tense finale but there is a release of energy as they cheer the ball to the boundary.

    It was a lovely reverse sweep from Heather Knight.

  2. Postpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 12 July 2023

    Melissa Story
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Slightly muted celebration from Heather Knight. She knows the job is not done.

  3. 50 runs

    50 for Heather Knightpublished at 39 overs

    Eng 217-6

    Heather Knight drives out to deep cover for a single and that takes her to her 25th ODI fifty.

    It comes up from 69 balls, it's been a valuable innings from the England skipper and the home side need a few more from her yet!

  4. Postpublished at 19:08 British Summer Time 12 July 2023

    Not sure about that, Darren. Heather Knight might not have been at her best but she's still there, one shy of her half-century and could still guide them to a series-levelling win...

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:07 British Summer Time 12 July 2023

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Darren: Sorry but the captain really needs to take a break from the side, clearly very scratchy with the bat and therefore placing undue pressure on those around her who then lose their own rhythm as a result. Rotate the strike and play with more authority please.

  6. Eng 215-6published at 38 overs

    Need another 49 to win

    Bonus runs for England! Heather Knight whips Tahlia McGrath to mid-wicket, it should be a dot ball but the fielder lets it get through and it runs all the way for four!

    Good over for England, four singles and that boundary from it.

  7. Postpublished at 19:02 British Summer Time 12 July 2023

    Anya Shrubsole
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Heather Knight will be quite calm. She will know everything that is going on and will look to shepherd Sophie Ecclestone through these last few overs.

  8. Eng 207-6published at 37 overs

    Target 264

    Still no need for England to panic but Australia are certainly ramping up the pressure now.

    Sophie Ecclestone is in at eight and plays out the rest of Georgia Wareham's over.

    A wicket maiden.

  9. Postpublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 12 July 2023

    Melissa Story
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    WarehamImage source, Reuters

    There is no need for England to play any big shots. It is in their hands. Can the all-rounders come in and play the support role?

  10. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 36.2 overs

    Jones c & b Wareham 2 (Eng 207-6)

    Chipped back to Georgia Wareham - England are not making this easy for themselves!

    Amy Jones shuffled down to the spinner, tried to hit back past her but fluffs the shot and it's a straightforward return catch for Wareham.

    Australia are just four wickets away from retaining the Ashes.

  11. Eng 207-5published at 36 overs

    Target 264

    What had been a very tight, tidy over from Megan Schutt ends with a boundary - superbly swept behind square by Heather Knight.

    Lovely shot and England are 57 runs away from levelling the series.

  12. Postpublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 12 July 2023

    Henry Moeran
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    There is a bit of a hush around the ground for the first time today.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 12 July 2023

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Steady clever batting by England. Grind those runs out, tire the bowlers out, and pick your shots. Easier said than done, but that's the way to play right now.

    Adrian in Worcester

  14. 200 runs

    Eng 201-5published at 35 overs

    Need another 63 runs to win

    Heather Knight is the key now for England, she's been joined in the middle by Amy Jones and between them, they take a further three singles from the Georgia Wareham over.

    There's cheers from the crowd as the 200 comes up.

  15. Eng 198-5published at 34.2 overs

    Every run is crucial and four of them help settle the nerves for England after that wicket.

    Heather Knight goes back to cut Georgia Wareham and threads the needle, beating the dives of two Aussie fielders behind square on the off side.

  16. Postpublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 12 July 2023

    Henry Moeran
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    SchuttImage source, Reuters

    Now the pressure does begin to build on England.

  17. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 34 overs

    Wyatt c Jonassen b Schutt 14 (Eng 194-5)

    Caught in the covers!

    This innings takes another twist as Danni Wyatt tries to thrash Megan Schutt through the off side but can only pick out Jess Jonassen just in front of square.

    Australia strike back and this one is back in the balance.

  18. Postpublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 12 July 2023

    The men's series may be on a break but Mitchell Starc just can't get enough of Ashes cricket.

    He's here to watch his wife and Australia skipper Alyssa Healy...

    StarcImage source, Getty Images
  19. Eng 190-4published at 33 overs

    The different approaches of these two England batters is shown quite nicely late in the Georgia Wareham over.

    While, Heather Knight drives elegantly to the deep cover, Danni Wyatt thumps the ball up and over the in-field on the off side.

    Both get a single for the shot but they're likely to go about things very differently.

  20. Eng 186-4published at 32 overs

    Megan Schutt bowls the first over after drinks and it is a good one, just one from it.

    There is an umpire review for a run out midway through the over after a direct hit when Heather Knight looked for a single before turning back.

    It looked like she was comfortably back but her bat bounced after initially being grounded outside the crease and it's actually quite tight.

    Fortunately, for England, Knight's bat was down again by the time the bails were broken.