Summary

  • England win means multi-format, points-based Ashes is drawn 8-8

  • Holders Australia retain urn but suffer first ODI bilateral series loss since 2013

  • Cross takes three wickets, including Perry and Mooney

  • Sciver-Brunt scores second successive century (129 off 149 balls)

  • Wyatt's 43 off 25 balls gives England late impetus

  • Knight (67) & Sciver-Brunt put on 147 for third wicket

  1. Aus 96-3published at 19 overs

    The floodlights are coming on and the ground staff were hovering by the covers during the Charlie Dean over.

    No sign of the umpires taking them off just yet with Alice Capsey set to bowl the next over for England.

  2. Aus 92-3published at 18.1 overs

    Hopefully that drizzle comes to nothing but Australia are behind on DLS at the moment.

    This shot from Ellyse Perry will help the tourists, though, a quick skip down and a lovely drive past mid-off for four.

  3. Postpublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Melissa Story
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    It is starting to rain, ever so lightly.

  4. Aus 87-3published at 18 overs

    Target 286

    Something of a rarity as Sophie Ecclestone drags one short and is punished by Ellyse Perry - walloped through mid-wicket for four.

    It's starting to look a little gloomy at Taunton, though...

  5. Postpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Emily Windsor
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    I'm going to be sad to see the end of the series. It's been a brilliant series and great for women's cricket. If England can win this ODI series, it would be such an achievement for Heather Knight and her side.

  6. Postpublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Here is the third Australia wicket to fall.

    That of Tahlia McGrath, stumped by Amy Jones off the bowling of Sophie Ecclestone.

  7. Aus 83-3published at 17 overs

    Target 286

    Nicely bowled by Charlie Dean, just a couple of singles from that first over after drinks.

  8. Postpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Phil Long
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    Beth Mooney averages 54 in ODI cricket, but against England, it is just under 66.

  9. Mooney reclaims top spot in ODI batting rankingspublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Australia's Beth MooneyImage source, Getty Images

    Earlier today, Australia left-hander Beth Mooney returned to the top of the ICC's ODI batting rankings.

    Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu had moved up to number one but her spell at the top ends at nine days after scores of 81 not out and 33 for Mooney in the first two Ashes ODIs.

    Nat Sciver-Brunt is up to second, just six points behind Mooney, after her unbeaten century at the Ageas Bowl.

    Having just notched another ton, Sciver-Brunt - who also leads the all-rounder rankings - could well leapfrog Mooney when the rankings are next updated...

  10. Postpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    This is Sophie Ecclestone's pitchmap from her first four overs.

    She very rarely misses, or offers any width to the Australia batters.

    Sophie Ecclestone pitchmapImage source, BBC Sport/CricViz
  11. Postpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Ellyse Perry has looked in ominously good form so far in this innings...

  12. drinks break

    Aus 81-3published at 16 overs

    Target 286

    After being swept in front of square for four by Beth Mooney, Sophie Ecclestone comes back well and restricts Australia to just one more from the over.

    Time for drinks and the game remains delicately poised.

  13. Postpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Emily Windsor
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    That was a great bit of work diving on the boundary from Sophia Dunkley, every run counts.

  14. Aus 76-3published at 15 overs

    Target 286

    Excellent work from Sophia Dunkley on the boundary denies Ellyse Perry another boundary to end the over.

    The way this series has gone, those two runs saved could prove crucial at the end.

  15. Aus 74-3published at 14.4 overs

    Target 286

    Middled!

    A flighted delivery from Charlie Dean and Ellyse Perry thumps the drive to the left of mid-off for four.

  16. Postpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Emily Windsor was spot on. Here comes Charlie Dean to bowl her off-spin.

  17. Aus 68-3published at 14 overs

    Target 286

    Sophie EcclestoneImage source, Reuters

    Three dot balls to end the over and Sophie Ecclestone now has figures of 1-3 from her first three overs.

    Super stuff from the left-arm spinner.

  18. Postpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Emily Windsor
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    StumpingImage source, Getty Images

    A big wicket to break that partnership. Perry and Mooney now coming to the crease are the two big ones. Does Heather Knight now turn to Charlie Dean? It wouldn't surprise me if we saw her shortly.

  19. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 13.3 overs

    McGrath st Jones b Ecclestone 26 (Aus 68-3)

    Breakthrough! Quick hands from Amy Jones behind the stumps!

    Tahlia McGrath advanced to a slightly more flighted delivery from Sophie Ecclestone and when she misses Jones is there to whip off the bails.

    An important wicket for England but here comes Beth Mooney, the top-ranked ODI batter in the world...

  20. Postpublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 18 July 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Sciver-Brunt is just having a chat with Ecclestone and Ecclestone is just showing her maturity. She's shown it throughout this series. She's got an unbelievable cricket brain, she's matured so much in the last year or so. I think she's a future England captain.

    I think how England have played this series, Heather Knight can carry on, she won't carry on forever though.