England Women’s Academy went behind 2-1 in their 50-over series against Australia Women Shooting Stars, who edged home by two wickets in the third match of four at the International Cricket Council Academy in Dubai.
After Saturday's heroics, which levelled the series, Georgia Elwiss again played a starring role for EWA by scoring 50 off just 39 deliveries, with Fran Wilson getting 45, as they were eventually all out for 260.
Elwiss already had a century and a half-century in this series, and she struck five fours today, the same as Alex MacDonald whose unbeaten 38 off 53 balls provided a very useful late boost.
The Australians had looked in very good nick chasing that total thanks to scores of 86 and 51 respectively from openers Elyse Villani and Beth Mooney, as they powered to 222 for four in 37 overs despite Elwiss trapping the dangerous Grace Harris lbw for 29.
And Alex Hartley, who finished with 4-44, roared EWA back into the game by ripping through the middle order. The Shooting Stars were made to sweat more heavily thanks to a late run-out by Elwiss to dismiss Megan Banting - before Jemma Barsby helped them across the line in 47 overs with a boundary.
Middlesex's Hartley told ecb.co.uk:"It (260) definitely was a defendable total but we maybe fell 40-50 short in the end - it was disappointing not to get 300.
"It looked like they were cruising to victory (but) it was really close. It came down to the wire. It was disappointing not to get the win in the end."
Hartley praised the efforts of Elwiss, adding: "She’s in great form and it's good for her to keep getting runs.
"We just lost too many wickets consecutively, and just didn’t kick on from there really."
And with the final game on Wednesday effectively make-or-break, Hartley has a simple formula for victory: "Over 300 is ideal. If we score 300 and bowl well it will be an easy game for us."