England has produced a vastly improved performance to shock Australia’s world champion netball team, beating it 61-59 in a thrilling second Test.

In front of a crowd of 12,072 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, neither side led by more than four in a far more even contest following Australia’s 13-goal victory in the opening Test.

England, without injured shooter Eleanor Cardwell, trailed by two at the last change, but outscored the Diamonds 18-14 in a tense final term.

The three-match series will be decided in Bendigo on Wednesday.

England opened up a three-goal lead  with just over a minute and a half to go and held on to score a famous win.

WHAT AN UPSET!!
England secure just their THIRD ever win over Australia in Australia.

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🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/TYTI4NhW8J pic.twitter.com/Hx50oU1VtG

— Fox Netball (@fox_netball) September 22, 2024

It was just England’s third win in 31 Tests against Australia.

Scores were tied 13-13 at quarter-time and England was up 22-19 in the second quarter, but was outscored 10-5 In the last six and a half minutes to trail by two at the half.

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.

-AAP