Australian Open bowls champions Kelsey Cottrell, Anne Johns and Lynsey Armitage have held onto their title.

The defending champions played Commonwealth Game silver medallists Kay Moran and Julie Keegan and world number four Karen Murphy in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Australian captain Armitage’s side took control early with a 7-5 opening set, before Murphy’s trio responded with a 10-6 second set to push the game into a tie-break.

Armitage edged her team on, adding to the margin with her last bowl of the opening end to jump to a 2-0 lead, but a measure on the penultimate end saw the scores level again.

The defending champions clinched victory by one shot when Murphy’s toucher finished millimetres too long.