Fans inside the brand-new Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Smethwick created an electric atmosphere but it was not enough to inspire a home gold as the Australians stole the show.

James Wilby was one of England’s biggest hopes for gold as he aimed to defend his men's 200 metres breaststroke title but was defeated by Australia’s Olympic gold medallist Zac Stubblety-Cook.

With the crowd behind him, Wilby got out the blocks fastest but Australian pair Matthew Wilson and Stubblety-Cook were breathing down his neck.

It was a tremendous battle as Wilby desperately tried to hang on as the volume increased inside the venue.

But the Englishman was overtaken by Stubblety-Cook in the final 25m.

Stubblety claimed victory in 2min 08.07sec as Wilby had to settle for silver in 2:08.59.

Scotland's Ross Murdoch bagged bronze in 2:10.41.

Elijah Winnington produced a sensational swim to secure the men's 400m freestyle crown in an Australian one-two-three.

The Olympic bronze medallist burst into the lead, moving 1.5 seconds under world-record pace at the halfway stage.

Winnington was unable to maintain his pace as Short began to close the gap on his rival.

But Winnington proved too strong, winning in 3:43.06.

Short was second in 3:45.07 with Horton third in 3:46.49.

Sam Short was trailing in second with defending champion Mack Horton battling in third to try to make it a clean sweep for Australia.

There was another Australian one-two-three in a gripping women’s 200m freestyle final where double Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus came from behind to edge out compatriot Mollie O'Callaghan in a gripping race.

The three Australians of Madison Wilson, Titmus and O'Callaghan aimed to stamp their authority on the race.

It was O'Callaghan who looked the stronger of the trio as she moved clear of Titmus going into the final 50m.

But Titmus timed her race to perfection as she clawed her way back before beating O'Callaghan to the wall.

Titmus finished in 1:53.89 to beat the previous Games record of 1:54.81.

O'Callaghan came second in 1:54.01, with Wilson finishing in 1:56.17 to clinch bronze.

There was also success for Australia in Para swimming as Timothy Hodge emerged victorious from the men's 100m backstroke S9 final.

The Australian looked in fine form as he touched the wall first after the opening 50m, with compatriot Jesse Reynolds closely tracking him.

Northern Ireland's Barry McClements was also battling hard in third.

Hodge held his form, clocking 1:01.88 to beat the previous Games best of 1:04.63 set at Gold Coast 2018.

The silver medal went to Reynolds in 1:03.65, with McClements claiming bronze in 1:05.09 as Australia's Harrison Vig missed out.

New Zealand's Sophie Pascoe showed no ill-effects of her COVID-hit build-up as she triumphed in the women's 100m freestyle S9.

The multiple Paralympic champion's preparations for the Games suffered a setback when she tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.

But Pascoe looked in fine fettle as she powered into the lead over the first 50m and refused to let it go.

The New Zealander touched the wall first in 1:02.95 to take the title.

Australia's Emily Beecroft came second in 1:03.74, with Toni Shaw of Scotland taking third in 1:03.75.

Canada’s teenage star McIntosh broke the Commonwealth Games record to capture the women's 400m individual medley crown.

McIntosh, who won two gold medals at the recent World Championships, got off to a blistering start, pulling clear of the rest of the field.

She moved four seconds clear of her nearest rival and compatriot Ella Jansen over the first 200m.

There was no stopping McIntosh as she forged ahead, clinching the title in 4:29.01 - beating the previous Games record of 4:31.76.

Australia's Kiah Melverton came back to take silver in 4:36.78, while Scotland's Katie Shanahan held on in the outside lane to claim bronze in 4:39.37.

In the final event of the night, Australia outlasted England to win the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay crown.

Lewis Edward Burras got England off to a flying start, finishing the opening leg ahead of Australia's William Xu Yang.

Kyle Chalmers then produced a storming second leg to overtake England's Tom Dean and put Australia in pole position.

Mollie O'Callaghan stayed strong for Australia as England's Anna Hopkin trailed in second, while Wales and Canada battled it out for third spot.

Emma McKeon finished the job for Australia who triumphed in 3:21.18.

Freya Anderson touched in second as England clocked 3:22.45 for silver.

Canada completed the podium with bronze in 3:24.86.