Australia has one hand on the Ashes after England narrowly missed pulling off the greatest chase in women's Test history during a thrilling draw in Canberra.
Set a target of 257 runs from 48 overs, England launched an all-out assault on the target late on Sunday afternoon before finishing on 9-245.
The tourists kept the required run-rate at around six an over for the entire chase before getting it as low as 45 runs from the final 10 overs with seven wickets in hand.
But the key wicket of Nat Sciver (58 from 62) swung the match dramatically, as England lost 6-26 and Australia went within touching distance of retaining the Ashes with a win.
Tailenders Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone then had to fend out the final 13 balls, as Australia toyed between leaving fielders on the boundary to save the game and attacking for a win.
For all of England's effort, they must now win all three of the upcoming ODIs to avoid Australia taking home the urn for a fourth straight series.
Regardless, the Canberra Test will be remembered as one of the best this century after both sides went for the win despite the previous record fourth-innings chase being 198.
In a frantic final three hours, Tammy Beaumont hit 36 from 42 at the top and Heather Knight 48 from 54 balls at number three after starting the chase needed 5.35 an over.
The tourists' hopes looked dashed when Knight went LBW to Darcie Brown, ending a wonderful Test for the England captain after her 168* in the first innings.
Sophia Dunkley looked as if she would follow next ball when also given out LBW, before overturning the decision on review.
She then hit 30 runs off her first 15 balls to revive England's hopes, and hit Annabel Sutherland for two straight sixes in an over that went for 16 runs.
Sciver brought up a 48-ball 50, before perishing at mid-wicket trying to pull Sutherland (3-69).
Sutherland also removed Amy Jones, before Beth Mooney took a superb catch on the boundary while still nursing her injured jaw to claim Dunkley's wicket on 45 off Alana King.
Anya Shrubsole was then run out in the third-last over, leaving Cross and Ecclestone to fend off debutant King's final over to stay in the series.
Look back how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
By Dean Bilton
IT'S A DRAW! WHAT A TEST MATCH!
And exhale. One of the best Test matches, male or female, you will ever see. Literally all four results were on the cards with three overs left, and if you're asking for more than that from your cricket then you're tough to please.
In the end the teams can't be split. Who's happier with that? It's hard to say! A draw means Australia is a win away from the Ashes, but they had a genuine chance to win that Test and couldn't quite get over the line. England have kept themselves alive and held on bravely at the end, but half an hour ago the game was in the palm of their hand.
That's cricket, eh. Keeps you guessing and keeps you enthralled. What a treat that was.
By Dean Bilton
That's it for the blog
Turns out we saved the best Test of the summer until last. Not a game we will forget in a hurry, nor the performances of Heather Knight, Katherine Brunt, Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes, Annabel Sutherlan, Nat Sciver or Alana King. It's quite incredible that these players are able to perform to that standard with such little exposure to this format of the game. So if there's something to take from this, it's that we need much, much more Test cricket for our women. But that's obvious at this point.
Thanks for joining us through all Test blogs this summer, it's been a treat to bring them to you and as always your questions, comments and opinion are the highlight. There's plenty more cricket on the horizon, with Tests in Pakistan only a month away. So until next time, good night!
By Dean Bilton
So how does the series sit?
So with the points shared from this match, Australia leads the multi-format series 6-4 with three ODIs (all worth two points each) to play.
That means just one more win would ensure Australia retains the Ashes, as a drawn series is enough for the Aussies to keep the urn.
England need to sweep the ODIs, the first of which is on Thursday, to win them back.
By Dean Bilton
Heather Knight is the player of the match
Is she ever. A magnificent century to drag her team back into the game in the first innings, a blistering cameo to set up the run chase in the second.
By Dean Bilton
A memorable day of Test cricket
What a game. Criminal that there aren’t more womens tests at this point.
-Chris
What a great test!
Thanks Dean for guiding us through solo.
-JL
Wow, what a match. That was more nail-biting than Ash Barty's 2nd set.
-Mike
Astonishing afternoon's play. Fair outcome. Thank you Dean for your solo efforts. Glad it's you and not me writing the day's summary for the ABC.
-Old timer
By Dean Bilton
The final over - Alana King, the stage is yours
There are 12 runs to win, but that's almost out of the equation now. Can Australia and this young leggie take one wicket and win the Ashes here and now?
Too many fielders on the rope, not enough around the bat. This is disappointing.
After one ball they've brought another couple in, but this field should look like the men's field at the end of the SCG Test. England aren't going for these runs now!
Great bowling. Bang on the money. Cross is lunging forward. GET THE FIELDERS IN.
Cross has a very secure forward defence. Three balls left! Do something Meg!
Around the wicket, wide of the off stump, left alone. Got to get her playing. Bring. Everyone. In.
Two balls to go, and now the field comes in once defeat is almost 100% out of the equation.
Quick slider, but seen out by Cross! A ball to go! Can Australia win the Test with the last ball?!?
Nope! It's a rank full toss and easily defended! It's a draw!
By Dean Bilton
Two overs to go - Sutherland will bowl it
Complete faith in this young jet. Can she win the Ashes for Australia?
13 required from 12 balls. It's beyond a run a ball for the first time in ages. Australia one wicket away.
Bouncer, and Cross ducks under it. I think England are playing for the draw now.
Cross defends. 10 balls to go. Forget about the runs for now, Australia are the ones on the hunt.
BEATEN! Oh boy! She drives and misses. Nine balls to go.
Field still very well spread here. Australia worried about the runs.
BEATEN AGAIN! At the moment it looks like both teams are too scared to lose. Someone has to take the risk.
Loose, down the leg side. A dot ball, seven to come.
Best ball of the over was saved until last, but Cross drives it down the ground for one.
An over to come!
By Dean Bilton
(Slightly less than) Three overs to go - One to come for King
Kate Cross in the middle. What could possibly happen next?
Sophie Ecclestone plays out a dot ball. England might be playing for the draw here.
Over bowled, four runs and TWO wickets.
By Dean Bilton
OUT! DEAN IS OUT! AUSTRALIA IS A WICKET AWAY FROM THE ASHES!
Jeez, after the most nervy (and contentious) check for a back foot no ball of all time, the wicket stands! Dean swept hard but got a pure top edge, straight up into the air and into Healy's gloves.
Australia is one wicket away! England 13 runs! 13 balls left!
By Dean Bilton
(Slightly less than) Three overs to go - Two to come for King
By Dean Bilton
OUT! SHRUBSOLE IS RUN OUT!
The quick single wasn't on there! Healy took it, through at the bowler's end and even though she was slightly out of position, King took it cleanly and broke the stumps with Shrubsole JUST short of her ground. It's also a dot ball which, you know, matters.
By Dean Bilton
Three overs to go - King continues
England need 17 runs from 18 balls. Three wickets in hand.
So much faith shown in young King. But Shrubsole lap sweeps for two more, so many runs have been scored there this afternoon. Australia needs to plug that gap.
One more down the ground. 14 from 16 needed. England SHOULD win.
Another lap sweep, just for one this time. There are easy singles out there, and England are going to take them all the way to victory. Lanning has to do something here.
RUN OUT! HAS TO BE! We'll go upstairs! King wasn't behind the stumps but she might have gotten away with it...
By Dean Bilton
(Slightly less than) Four overs to go - Sutherland has five to come
England have to keep going for it at this point, but Australia has a slight window of opportunity. With 23 balls left, all four results are in play.
Charlie Dean is the new batter.
BEATEN! Swing and a miss on the cut shot from Dean. But she's going for it alright.
Dean tucks one off her pad and takes the single. Again, that's all you need! England don't need to do anything remotely risky here! Some of the batting in the last few overs has been panicked.
Quick single, Sutherland has a shy at the bowler's end... no good. A run to Shrubsole. Good batting.
That's not the length for Sutherland. Has to be short or much fuller than that. Too easy for Dean to turn that to square leg for one more.
One more for Shrubsole down the ground. Over bowled, four from it.
By Dean Bilton
GOOOONE! SUTHERLAND NICKS OFF BRUNT! SEVEN DOWN
Wait. Hang on. Could... Australia win this? They only need three more!
Sutherland dug in another excellent short ball and found a feather of a top edge from Brunt. Easy catch for Healy and the veteran is gone. My head's gone.
By Dean Bilton
Four overs to go - Sutherland stays on
I wondered if she might be getting a bit tired, and if they might turn to some experience. Lanning is sticking with her young tearaway.
21 runs needed off 24 balls.
By Dean Bilton
(Slightly less than) Five overs to go - Four to go for King
Brunt takes a single, Anya Shrubsole the new batter on strike.
RUN OUT SHOUT?!? They took a quick single to backward point. A direct hit would have had Brunt, but Healy had to take the bails off. I think she'll be fine.
She is. Not out. One run.
Dot ball. Brunt drives straight to cover.
Brunt sweeps hard, thinks about two but it's Ellyse Perry in the deep. Only one.
Four runs and a wicket from the over. Hold on to your hats.
By Dean Bilton
WHAT A CATCH BETH MOONEY! A SCREAMER AT LONG ON! DUNKLEY IS OUT!
Outrageous! Dunkley took it on, and probably felt like she was going to get away with it. But out of nowhere there was Beth Mooney, WITH PLATES IN HER FRESHLY BROKEN JAW, flying through the air and barrell rolling while completing a miraculous catch.
Yet. Another. Twist. Can Australia save this?
By Dean Bilton
Five overs to go - They stick with King
The equation is 25 runs from 30 balls. So manageable. England just need to keep their heads from here.
Great running from Brunt. Drop and run to point to get Dunkley on strike.
By Dean Bilton
(Slightly less than) Six overs to go - Four to come for Sutherland
Katherine Brunt has come in, but the batters crossed so Dunkley is on strike.
She turns one into the onside, and runs like hell to turn it into two. That's the ticket for England, that's all they have to do.
FOUR RUNS! King can't keep it from the rope! Dunkley swatted that from almost over her head through cover for four! King got there but couldn't tap it back effectively. Advantage England again!
Somehow Dunkley has top edged that down to third. She takes a single. Brunt has one to face.
Brunt hits one straight to mid off and runs. She will keep the strike. Seven off the over, that'll do for England.
By Dean Bilton
OUT! JONES HOLES OUT TO MOONEY! SUTHERLAND HAS ANOTHER!
Jones wanted to keep going! They don't need to! England can win this game with ones and twos, but in going for the big one she's presented the simplest of catches to Beth Mooney at cow corner! Oh boy, you don't know where to look in this game!
