Summary

  • England hold nerve to win by three runs - Australia now lead points-based series 6-2

  • Australia slip to 75-4 & 160-7 after being 59-0

  • Perry's late onslaught - 51 off 27 balls - not enough for Australia

  • Ecclestone reaches 100 T20 wickets - the quickest to the mark

  • England set Australia 187 to win, despite losing five wickets for 19 runs in 23 balls

  • Sutherland takes two wickets in two balls and superb catch

  • Wyatt top-scores with 76 off 46 balls

  • Next match: Third T20 at Lord's, Saturday (18:35 BST)

  • Highlights on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport app from 23:00 BST

  1. Postpublished at 20:19 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It was a dropped catch from Charlie Dean. Beth Mooney slaps the ball to mid-off, it bounces just at the feet of Dean. Tahlia McGrath is caught ball watching, the throw isn't that great from Charlie Dean as she was on both knees. She lies face down in the dirt, arms flapping like some sort of bird.

  2. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 7.3 overs

    McGrath run out (Dean/Jones) 4 (Aus 65-2)

    Absolute chaos.

    Beth Mooney drives towards Charlie Dean at mid-off. Does it carry? Not sure.

    She gets onto her knees and throws to Amy Jones, with Tahlia McGrath only a few steps away from the non-striker's end.

    The throw is wayward but Jones gathers, throws herself threw the air, and chucks the ball onto the stumps.

    Dean, flat on the air, puts her arms out in celebration and Sophie Ecclestone and another England player climb on top in delight.

  3. Postpublished at 20:15 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone is on.

    This could be a big period in the game.

    Can the number one bowler in the world do some damage? How will Australia play her?

  4. Postpublished at 20:15 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    MooneyImage source, Reuters

    Beth Mooney is a dangerous player, purely because she knows how to tempo an innings. If she's there in five overs' time she will accelerate.

  5. Aus 62-1published at 7 overs

    Target 187

    A good over from Sarah Glenn.

    The wicket and just four conceded. That has brought an element of control back.

    Australia need 125 runs off 78 balls.

  6. Postpublished at 20:12 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    GlennImage source, Reuters

    Huge moment in this game. Sarah Glenn with a breakthrough, we know how dangerous Healy can be.

    Clever bowling, keeping the stumps in play, allowing the batter to make the mistake.

  7. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 6.2 overs

    Healy b Glenn 37 (Aus 59-1)

    Awful shot.

    With fine leg up in the circle, Alyssa Healy shuffles outside off stump and looks to pull away for a boundary.

    However she just misses the ball, which goes on straight and hits middle stump.

    A rapid 37 off 19 balls for Healy though. She's given Australia the start they wanted and needed.

  8. Postpublished at 20:10 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Alex Blackwell
    Former Australia batter on BBC Test Match Special

    Healy doesn't really care where the fielders are - she's just smacking it.

  9. Aus 58-0published at 6 overs

    Target 187

    Alyssa Healy again tries to reverse sweep with the back of her bat. Surely that adds another element of risk to an already risky shot?

    More orthodox drives over cover and back down the ground bring boundaries for Healy.

    Australia's powerplay. England need a wicket.

  10. Postpublished at 20:08 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Ffion Wynne
    BBC Sport at The Oval

    That six was genuinely huge. The square boundaries are so long and she has cleared it with ease.

    Love a crowd catch, too - I always wonder what I'd do if I ever get one. I'd like to think I'd play it cool, but it probably wouldn't end up that way.

    I was really confident for England at the halfway stage but these two have gone up a gear now, and that's ominous.

  11. Postpublished at 20:07 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Alex Blackwell
    Former Australia batter on BBC Test Match Special

    It's looking really dangerous for England. Healy is in a mood tonight, we've seen a couple of big sixes and none bigger than that shot - the crowd has to stay awake!

  12. 6 runs

    Aus 49-0published at 5 overs

    Target 187

    Alyssa Healy is good at cricket. Pass it on.

    She hits her second six of the over with an outrageous flick over mid-wicket.

    Superb. A pleasure to watch.

  13. Postpublished at 20:05 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Alex Blackwell
    Former Australia batter on BBC Test Match Special

    She only got the inside half of this but she was 100% committed to it.

  14. 6 runs

    Aus 40-0published at 4.2 overs

    Target 187

    Shot.

    One step down the pitch from Alyssa Healy and she just lofts Nat Sciver-Brunt over long-on.

    This is ominous for England.

  15. Postpublished at 20:02 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    MooneyImage source, Getty Images

    There are 20,328 people inside The Oval tonight.

    Henry reckons that is before the hospitality numbers are added.

    Impressive.

  16. Postpublished at 20:02 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Henry Moeran
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Lauren Bell has gone well in this Ashes so far, but that was a pretty loose over from the England fast bowler.

  17. Postpublished at 20:02 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Alex Blackwell
    Former Australia batter on BBC Test Match Special

    Bell will want to bring that length back, she's got no fielders down the ground and will want to hit top of the stumps or on the hip.

  18. Aus 33-0published at 4 overs

    Target 187

    England had an element of control in the first couple of overs but Australia are now well and truly back on track.

    Beth Mooney flicks Lauren Bell to the square-leg boundary, before lofting her down the ground.

    Alyssa Healy makes it 17 from the over with a guide - OK, maybe an edge - down the third boundary.

  19. Postpublished at 20:00 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Alex Blackwell
    Former Australia batter on BBC Test Match Special

    GibsonImage source, Reuters

    England have done well to generate dots, forcing the Australians to do something to break that pressure. I think England have got their plans pretty well set, they understand where the batters are trying to hit the ball, they've got the fielders set for each individual.

  20. Postpublished at 19:58 British Summer Time 5 July 2023

    Sophie Ecclestone was run out for 22 off the final ball of the innings.

    But how crucial could those 22 runs, and this six, be to the final result?