“It feels like a moral victory,” she said.

Australia have only once chased a higher total to win,but the Somerset ground is a high-scoring venue so they had reason to believe.

Healy put England in and opened with spinner Gardner,who soon dismissed the out-of-form Sophia Dunkley. More significant was Megan Schutt bowling the in-form Tammy Beaumont cheaply.

That brought England’s most experienced pair,Heather Knight and Sciver-Brunt,to the crease. They rebuilt,slowly at first,then accelerated towards a century partnership.

Having put on 147,Knight was bowled by Alana King for a 72-ball 67 and Alice Capsey holed out off Jess Jonassen soon after.

But Sciver-Brunt,who had been dropped by Tahlia McGrath on 54,moved on to a 126-ball century scoring almost exclusively on the leg side. She became the first player to make four centuries against Australia,all scored in her last five Ashes ODIs.

Danni Wyatt (43 off 25) provided strong support but was bowled by Gardner,who then caught Sciver-Brunt off Jonassen on the boundary.

Gardner finished with 3-39 off 10 overs and Jonassen 3-30 off five as England’s tail wagged limply.

The tourists also began slowly,being 2-15 with Phoebe Litchfield (one) caught first slip and Healy (seven) bowled.

Perry and McGrath (26) took the score to 68 before the latter was stumped. Beth Mooney joined Perry but nine runs later rain arrived.

When the teams returned,Australia needed another 172 runs from 148 balls. Perry moved past her half-century,smashing a no-ball free-hit for six,but was then caught off a leading edge.

Mooney went soon after (16) but Gardner came in to smack sixes square and straight. But then she chanced a second run to Wyatt and was run out.

After Amy Jones pulled off another smart stumping to dismiss Georgia Wareham (14 off nine),the end came quickly. Annabel Sutherland was bowled for 18,King caught behind for a duck and Jonassen last out for five.

AAP

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