Women's Ashes: Heather Knight rescues England with a superb century on day two in Canberra

Captain Heather Knight single-handedly repelled Australia with a superb century to keep England in the Ashes on day two of the one-off Test in Canberra.

As the batting line-up crumbled around her, Knight hit 127 not out from 249 balls, her second Test ton, to drag England to 235-8 at the close, 102 behind.

Knowing defeat would see Australia retain the Ashes, Knight ensured England avoided the follow-on which, with rain forecast for the final two days, could be crucial in their bid to avoid to defeat.

The next highest score was 27 not out, made by number 10 Sophie Ecclestone who shared a crucial unbroken stand of 66 with Knight late in the day.

The England top-order was guilty of a number of soft dismissals, Opener Lauren Winfield-Hill, who edged a wafted drive to depart for four, and Amy Jones, caught off the top-edge at mid-on attempting to shovel the ball to leg, two of those culpable.

Earlier, Australia declared on 337-9 in the morning session with Katherine Brunt taking 5-60.

Even if England escape with a draw they will still need to win the three one-day internationals which follow to win the series.

As wickets were tamely offered up at regular intervals England looked to be subsiding into a position that would have left defeat inevitable.

Knight, however, was incredible. She was already the only woman to hit centuries in all three formats for England but this effort, her fifth international ton in total, must surely rank as her best.

Her team-mates had no answer to Australia's impressive and varied bowling attack but, having come in in the third over, Knight, showing solid defence and accumulating off her pads and with drives through the covers, hardly offered a chance.

The only opportunity came when Knight was on 93,