England collapse in Women's Ashes as Australia clinch series win

England's hopes of drawing the Women's Ashes were emphatically ended with Heather Knight's side rolled for just 129 in the second ODI as Australia secured a series-clinching victory.

Ashes holders Australia had retained the trophy on Thursday with a 27-run win in the first ODI taking them on to an unassailable eight points - but England could still have levelled the score at 8-8 by winning the concluding two 50-over fixtures at Junction Oval in Melbourne.

However, they tumbled to a five-wicket loss against an Ellyse Perry-inspired home side - the tourists all out in 45.2 overs as Perry claimed 3-12 from seven overs before the Australia all-rounder struck 40 to help her team to a five-wicket-success with 88 deliveries to spare and a 10-4 series lead.

Australia made hard work of the run chase, slipping to 18-2 as Kate Cross and Anya Shrubsole struck early and then 99-5 as Cross clean bowled Tahlia McGrath (19) and then ran out Perry with a direct hit from mid-on.

Ash Gardner (31no off 34) took Australia to the brink of victory with back-to-back boundaries off Shrubsole - one six and one four - in the 35th over before England off-spinner Charlie Dean shipped four leg byes as the match ended two balls into the 36th over.

Tuesday's final game now represents the last chance for an England side to record an Ashes victory this winter, with the women having won none of their six games so far - three defeats, a draw and two washouts - and the men folding to a 4-0 defeat in their Test series Down Under.

Perry picked up her first ODI wicket since October 2019 when a superb one-handed catch from wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy removed Tammy Beaumont (6) in the fourth over of the England innings.

Knight (18) and Lauren Winfield-Hill (24)