England's winter activities ended on a positive note as they held out for a draw at the Bankstown Oval.

We've come a long way together as a team on this tour England coach John Harmer

Charlotte Edwards returned to form with 67 and Claire Taylor played out the closing overs to finish on 21 not out after the home side had declared their second innings with a lead of 206.

Lisa Sthalekar made an unbeaten 120 for Australia, while England's Lucy Pearson became only the second bowler in Women's Test history to take 11 wickets in a match.

She followed her seven first innings wickets with 4-57 to emulate the 1957 feat of Australia's Betty Wilson.

The Southern Stars began the morning session looking to press on quickly after Sthalkar and Alex Blackwell had rescued them from a prescarious position on the third day.

Blackwell was bowled by Pearson for 58, but Sthalekar maintained her composure to register his maiden century.

England made a poor start following the declaration when Sarah Collyer was lbw to Emma Twining for three, but Edwards and Kathryn Leng steadied the innings with a half century stand.

The lbw decision against Charlotte Edwards was harsh

Leng was dismissed by Sthalekar for 28 shortly before the tea interval and Australia had half a chance to force a victory when Edwards was finally adjudged lbw to Cathryn Fitzpatrick.

Pace bowler Fitzpatrick then removed Arran Thompson, Lydia Greenway and Clare Connor in quick succession, but Taylor saw it through to the close with Laura Newton.

Australia still won the series 1-0, but England coach John Harmer was in upbeat mood after the match.

"When we arrived in New Zealand for the quadrangular series last month, we were ranked fifth in the world and had already been written off in the Ashes series.

"Now we're ranked at three in one-day cricket and have competed in every session of the Test matches.

"The players are starting to realise they're really not that far away from Australia, who and ranked number one, and we're closing the gap all the time," he commented.