England have produced a vastly improved performance to shock the world netball champions 61-59 and give themselves a chance of winning a first series against the Diamonds in Australia.
In front of 12,072 fans at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, neither side led by more than four goals in a far more even contest than Australia's 13-goal victory in the opening Test.
England, without injured shooter Eleanor Cardwell, trailed by two at the last change, but outscored the Diamonds 18-14 in a tense final term.
The three-match series will be decided in front of a sellout crowd in Bendigo on Wednesday.
The lead changed hands numerous times, but the Diamonds couldn't recapture the fluency of their first-Test performance as England scrapped and defended superbly.
"We certainly expected them to come out with a great deal of intensity," said Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich, who made three changes to her starting side.
"I think we got stuck on the body a bit, which obviously stopped our connection and our flow, so we'll definitely take some good lessons and learnings as to what we need to do to break that open.
"Defensively they had some really good players who maximised court space. They got some really great depth on us, and it's something we definitely need to look at and adjust for Bendigo."
It was England's third win in 31 Tests against the Diamonds in Australia and just their ninth in 79 anywhere.
England coach Jess Thirlby acknowledged the Roses had always struggled to go back-to-back against the Diamonds in Australia, having never won a series against them here.
"We're going to really look forward to an opportunity to put right the wrongs of not being able to back it up," Thirlby said.
"We have to show up (on Wednesday), otherwise what was the point of tonight if we're not wanting that foothold in the series? We know it won't be easy."
Circle defender Funmi Fadoju was a livewire for the Roses, winning eight of their 10 gains and grabbing two intercepts.
Liv Tchine, who replaced Cardwell, shot 32 of 34. Helen Housby, who plays for the NSW Swifts in Super Netball, made 29 of 33.
Scores were 13-13 at quarter-time and England were up 22-19 in the second quarter, but were outscored 10-5 In the last six and a half minutes to trail by two at the half.
Marinkovich made three changes at half-time, replacing shooter Cara Koenen (16/19) with Sophie Garbin (24/25), bringing Matilda Garrett on at goal defence, and switching Sunday Aryang from that position to wing defence in place of Amy Parmenter.
Australia moved four ahead early in the third, but England rallied to lead 42-41, before the Diamonds scored four of the last five to lead 45-43 at the final change.
England opened up a three-goal lead with just over a minute and a half to go and held on to score a famous win.
"I think we were much better today, we took on the drive like we meant it," Thirlby said.
"To have found a way to win this early in this team's evolution is really satisfying and it is significant."
