Tasked with achieving their record ODI chase of 264, England exploded out of the blocks thanks to a blistering, 74-run second-wicket stand between Tammy Beaumont (47 off 42 balls) and Alice Capsey (40 off 34) but a late dramatic late collapse almost saw the Ashes slip through their grasp.

Four wickets fell for 41 runs - Danni Wyatt (14), Amy Jones (2), Sophie Ecclestone (5) and Sarah Glenn (3) out cheaply - to reduce England to 235-8 in the 44th over.

Crucially, captain Heather Knight remained, hitting a magnificent, unbeaten 75 to see her side over the line with 11 balls to spare, with Kate Cross (19no) providing admirable support in a match-winning 32-run partnership.

• Scorecard: England vs Australia, first ODI
• First ODI in Bristol - as it happened
• Live cricket on Sky Sports | Watch with NOW | Get Sky Sports | @SkyCricket

England's epic triumph in Bristol is their third-straight in white-ball cricket against the visitors, coming off the back of winning the final two T20 internationals for a first series win over Australia since 2017. It's also the first time in 137 matches that Australia have lost three in a row.

Having lost the series-opening Test match at Trent Bridge - handing Australia four points towards the eight they need to retain the Ashes - England then lost the opening IT20 at Edgbaston to fall behind 6-0.

But 'must-win mode' has brought the best out of Knight's side since, and they now harbour real hope of winning back the Ashes for the first time in nine years, the series level with two games to play.

Australia captain Alyssa Healy (8), having crunched two boundaries off her first three deliveries after winning the toss, fell to the fourth, lbw Cross (1-42). Initially not given on the field, England wisely reviewed and were vindicated by DRS.

The hosts could and should have added further to their wicket tally in the early exchanges, with Ellyse Perry dropped twice, on six and 19.

Ecclestone was the first offender, albeit badly put off at first slip by a diving Jones across her sight line, while Cross barely could get a finger on her hugely-difficult chance diving to her right at mid-on.

Ecclestone made amends to open the 13th over, claiming a truly sensational, one-handed leaping grab at full stretch to dismiss Phoebe Litchfield (34).

But despite Ecclestone's inspired effort, the errors continued for England in the field, with Perry put down for a third time - Glenn dropping a dolly at mid-on this time - but this one would not prove too costly as leg-spinner Glenn (1-30) would pick her up with ball in hand in her second over.

Tahlia McGrath was also dropped on seven, Jess Jonassen on 13, while Beth Mooney was put down on 19 and also survived a missed stumping by Jones on 39, the latter truly making England pay for their errors with a majestic, unbeaten 81 to anchor Australia's innings.

Despite England's best efforts with the numerous errors in the outfield, they continued to take wickets. The off-spin of Capsey (1-37) bowled McGrath (24) for her maiden ODI wicket, while Lauren Bell (2-56) picked up two in three balls to reduce Australia to 185-6 in the 37th over.

Nat Sciver-Brunt first claimed a great overhead catch to dismiss Ash Gardner (21), before Bell then bowled Annabel Sutherland for a duck with a beauty to clip the top of off stump.

Jonassen (30) rebuilt with Mooney over the final 10 overs, the pair helping push Australia up to what ultimately proved to be a hugely testing total of 263-8, though it did not initially appear that way after England's swashbuckling start with the bat.

Sophia Dunkley (8) was bowled cheaply by Perry (1-38), a nip-backer beating her through the gate, but Beaumont and Capsey - the latter fresh from her match-winning feats in the final IT20 at Lord's on Saturday - powered England to their record-highest ODI powerplay score of 84-1.

They were aided also by some out-of-character sloppiness with the ball from Australia - a staggering 19 extras conceded in the first 10 - but just when it looked like England might romp to a comfortable victory, Beaumont and Capsey were bundled out in the space of 3.1 overs.

Knight and Sciver-Brunt (31) rebuilt with a sensible 42-run partnership, before the latter departed to Jonassen (1-37) and Knight struggled for partners thereafter.

Megan Schutt (1-40) accounted for Wyatt, while spinner Gardner (3-42) and Georgia Wareham (2-34) combined to devastating effect to run through England's lower order.

But just as the game and, in turn, the Ashes appeared to be slipping from England's grasp, Cross came in an smashed four vitally-important boundaries, while Knight struck a glorious six over deep midwicket in Gardner's final over to help set-up a memorable two-wicket win.

Knight: Fight in the side is remarkable

Player of the match and England captain Heather Knight:

"It feels very good. It was hard work out there. I thought it was starting to slip away towards the end, but the crowd kept us in it and Kate Cross, what a hero!

"Also, the way Tammy [Beaumont] and Alice [Capsey] batted at the top, it was a clear tactic by us to try to take the powerplay on and they did it brilliantly.

"In every game, it has been so close and credit to both teams; it's been an awesome series, though I wouldn't mind a few less nail-biters.

"To beat a very good side which has been on that run is outstanding and I think we can be a lot better as well. I don't think we had our best day, but the fight in the side is remarkable."

Healy: Australia outplayed at the end

Australia captain Alyssa Healy:

"We probably got outplayed a bit at the end, but we fought really well to keep ourselves in the fixture.

"We were probably 20 runs short with the bat and then we bowled 20-odd extras... so that's probably what would have won it for us.

"We'll just look at areas we can improve on for next time. We either see it as an opportunity to learn and grow, or an opportunity to throw excuses out there. It's up to us to turn it around for the next two games - that Ashes trophy is well and truly on the line."

What's next?

The multi-format Women's Ashes next heads for Southampton and The Ageas Bowl, with the second ODI between England and Australia live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.30am on Sunday, with play starting at 11am.

The two teams will then meet for the final time this summer at Taunton in the last game of the series on Tuesday, July 18 (1pm start).

Women's Ashes schedule (all games live on Sky Sports)

• Test match (Trent Bridge) - Australia won by 89 runs
• First T20 international (Edgbaston) - Australia won by four wickets
• Second T20 international (The Kia Oval) - England won by three runs
• Third T20 international (Lord's) - England won by five wickets
• First one-day international (Unique Stadium, Bristol) - England won by two wickets
• Second one-day international (The Ageas Bowl) - Sunday July 16 (11am start)
• Third one-day international (Taunton) - Tuesday July 18 (1pm start)

Watch the second ODI of the multi-format Women's Ashes between England and Australia on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.30am, ahead of the first ball at 11am. Stream this summer's men's and women's Ashes series on NOW