Knight's Onslaught in Rain in Vain as Australia Clinch Series

Australia have won the Ashes outright after sealing victory in the second Twenty20 international in Canberra yesterday in a controversial finish as England fought to complete a tight rain-affected run chase.

- Raf Nicholson

The hosts won by six runs under the DLS method and are now 10-0 up on points.

There remains the prospect of a series whitewash, which Australia's stand-in captain, Tahlia McGrath, said was now the team's goal: "Job not done. We've been hungry for a while."

The umpires pulled the players from the field with five balls remaining and the England captain, Heather Knight, remonstrated with them before reluctantly walking off.

England needed an unlikely 18 to win, but Knight - on strike and unbeaten on 43 from 19 balls - felt she could have pulled it off.

"It was frustration at the situation," she said.

"It was the right decision to take us off."

It was the second time rain had intervened.

England had been two runs ahead of the required rate at this point, 8.4 overs into their run chase, when play was halted.

The hard work of the groundsmen then handed them a second opportunity to chase the runs.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley continued to put pressure on the Australian fielders after the resumption, sending the wet ball through their hands and flying to all corners of the ground.