The Ashes: England-level multi-format series with Australia with two-wicket win in first ODI

Australia 263-8 (50 overs): Mooney 81* (99); Sciver-Brunt 2-38England 267-8 (48.1 overs): Knight 75* (86); Gardner 3-42England won by two wickets; series level based on points at 6-6 target 264 with 11 bullets remaining - their most successful chase in the format.

England were down three wickets late, but number 10 Kate Cross remained unfazed, breaking four fours in her superb 19 cameo.

It's England's first ODI victory over the world champions since 2017.

The points-based series are beautifully positioned at 6-6 with two ODIs to play, of which Australia only need to win one to retain the Ashes .

England started their hunt in phenomenal style, reaching 84-1 from the power play at 10 with opener Tammy Beaumont scoring 47 on 42 balls, and the aggressive Alice Capsey blitzing on 34 balls 40.

Australia were uncharacteristically sloppy on the field, offering England 16 extras in the first four overs as loose balls were punished to the limit with ease.

Spinners Ash Gardner and Georgia Wareham helped bring back control of Australia, but Knight held good in the middle the lower order stumbled, eventually finding company in Cross for a 32 winning partnership.

England were also in tatters on the pitch, losing five catches and missing a stump as Beth Mooney was dropped on the 19th and finished unbeaten on the 81st, but the Aussie batters failed to fully capitalize.

Australia, who had a 6-0 lead, had previously lost just one in 42 ODIs, and have now lost three consecutive games following England's 2-1 victory in the T20 series.

Ahead of the series, England pledged aggression knowing that the best way to defeat the best team in the world is to attack them.

There were signs in the narrow defeat of the test match, there were passages of thrill in the T20 series victory, but it really came to fruition in front of another packed crowd in Bristol.

England finally worked hard on the chase, but efforts from Beaumont and Capsey on the power play ensured they were so far ahead of the game that they could get away with a bit of a wobble.

Beaumont took over the test match, where she scored a double century, and hung on all the breadth that was afforded by the capricious seamers of Australia.

England had 27 runs after three overs - and only had...