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Diamonds coach Stacy 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.

But the Diamonds couldn’t recapture the fluency of their first-Test performance and England scrapped and defended superbly.

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.

Liv Tchine, who replaced Cardwell, shot 32 of 34 for England, with Helen Housby, who plays for the NSW Swifts in Super League, making 29 off 33.