Islamabad (Sports Desk):Australia won a tense rain-affected Women’s Ashes encounter by six runs in the second T20 to complete an outright series victory.

Set 186 to win in Canberra, England needed 18 from the last five balls with captain Heather Knight unbeaten on 43 before heavy rain fell and no further play was possible. England finished on 168-4, six runs short of the required score set by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.

Opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge's 52 put England in a strong position supported by Sophia Dunkley's 32 before Nat Sciver-Brunt (22) and Knight saw England go close.

Australia raced to 47-0 from five overs, Beth Mooney scoring 44, but the hosts slipped to 75-4 and were 137-5 after 17 overs, only for Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris to accelerate their way to 185-5. England spinners Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone took a brace and a wicket respectively with Freya Kemp dismissing Annabel Sutherland.

The result sees Australia take a 10-0 lead in the points-based multi-format series, which ends England's hopes of a draw. The two teams now travel to Adelaide for their final T20 fixture on Saturday.

Heather Knight’s post-match media conference is available here.

2025 Women’s Ashes fixtures and results (UK dates and times)

CommBank Women’s Ashes ODI Series

11 January: North Sydney Oval, Sydney – Australia won by four wickets

13 January: Junction Oval, Melbourne - Australia won by 21 runs

16 January: Bellerive Oval, Hobart – Australia won by 86 runs

CommBank Women’s Ashes IT20 Series

20 January: SCG, Sydney – Australia won by 57 runs

23 January: Manuka Oval, Canberra – Australia won by six runs (DLS)

25 January: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (8.10am UK time)

CommBank Women’s Ashes Test Match

30 January-2 February: MCG, Melbourne (3.30am UK time)