Ashes still alive as England are denied by hosts

Ellyse Perry hit an unbeaten 90 as Australia stunned England with a dramatic four-wicket win to keep the Women’s Ashes series alive.

The tourists came into the contest with an 8-2 lead on points and knowing victory would see them retain the urn with three Twenty20 games to go.

But Perry and Erin Osborne scored 70 runs off the last eight overs to see Australia to their target of 269 with three balls to spare.

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England had looked favourites after amassing 
268-4 on a flat wicket with Sarah Taylor top-scoring with 64. Charlotte Edwards’s side made the most of winning the toss and electing to bat as the captain and Heather Knight put on 79.

Their serene progress continued until the 19th over when Edwards (34) became the first wicket to fall.

That brought Taylor to the crease and she and Knight went about upping the run rate. Their 41 partnership came at nearly a run a ball before Knight was run out for 57 in the 26th over.

Taylor was eventually removed when she found Jess Cameron off Perry.

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Lydia Greenway hit 25 the Natalie Sciver struck 43 off 35 balls and Arran Brindle amassed 26 off 25.

Meg Lanning (40) led the hosts’ reply helping Australia to 45-0 after nine overs.

She then clobbered a six and a four in the 10th but was gone next ball, stumped by Taylor off Jenny Gunn.

Cameron (5) was run out shortly after to leave Australia on 64-2.

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That became 81-3 as Nicole Bolton was bowled by Danielle Hazell for 31.

Perry and Alex Blackwell then steadied the ship as they put on 88 for the fourth wicket, but Gunn bowled the latter for 51.

Alyssa Healy was next to go as she she was caught behind off Gunn and when Jonassen was bowled by Sciver for just three England were heavy favourites.

But that brought Osborne to the crease and she and Perry grasped the nettle as they set about chasing 70 runs off the last eight overs.

The duo scored 12 runs off the 47th and when Perry hit a six in the next, Australia were in the ascendancy with Osborne hitting the winning four with three balls to spare.

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