The home side made it four wins out of five at the County Ground in Bristol as they pipped the previously undefeated Australians.

England opener Tammy Beaumont top-scored for the hosts with 49, as Katherine Brunt added a useful 45 not out from 43 balls.

However, their total of 259-8 looked catch-able after Australia's Elyse Villani performed best with the ball, taking 3-42.

In reply, Australia did not lose a string of early wickets but England contained them well to ensure their total would not be plain sailing.

Five wickets then fell in the last ten overs as they came up short on 256-8.

It meant 70 from Ellyse Perry was in vain as three England bowlers chipped in with two wickets each, including Brunt.

Australia have slipped to second in the table with all eight teams contesting the same group in the opening stage of the tournament.

Every side has now played five out of seven matches with the top four booking a place in the semi-finals.

The West Indies were also successful today, collecting their first win of the tournament at the expense of Sri Lanka.

After posting 229-9 at the County Ground in Derby, the Caribbean side bowled out their opponents for 182 to win by 47 runs.

It means that Sri Lanka have now lost all five of their matches.

Group play continues on Tuesday (July 11) when the West Indies will play Pakistan in Leicester.