Australia A v England A: Tourists suffer batting collapse in tense 25-run defeat

England A squandered a match-winning position as they collapsed to a 25-run defeat against Australia A with just four balls remaining in the four-day match in Sydney.

England were eyeing victory at 181-2 and 252-5 in pursuit of 289, but lost their last five wickets for 12 runs and fell to 264 all out.

Hollie Armitage scored 75, Alice Capsey made 55 and Paige Scholfield’s 39 from 24 balls put England in command, but the latter’s dismissal triggered the collapse with just 37 more runs required.

The ninth-wicket pair of Georgia Davis and Issy Wong tried to survive for the draw but a shocking mix-up in the penultimate over saw Wong run out for nine from 21 balls, before Davis was bowled by Charli Knott two balls later.

Captain Knott had earlier scored 123 in Australia’s second innings to build on Australia’s lead of 115 at the start of the day.

Knott declared on 353-6 after lunch, which set up the tantalising conclusion with 63 overs for England to reach their target.

England had taken a first-innings lead of 64 on day three after sparkling centuries from Capsey and Scholfield, who made 108 and 164 respectively in a total of 407.

But Knott’s ton alongside half-centuries from Rachel Trenaman and Nicole Faltum thwarted England’s victory push as they recovered from 110-3, which was backed up by the fine all-round bowling effort on the final day.

Seamers Lauren Cheatle and Tess Flintoff and spinners Lilly Mills and Knott all finished with two wickets apiece.

England had won the preceding rain-affected T20 series 1-0, while Australia claimed a 2-1 win in the one-day internationals.