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The captain led from the front and guided England to a comprehensive win in third ODI by 46 runs (DLS method) to keep the five-match series alive at Chester-le-Street, Riverside on September 24. Harry Brook’s maiden ODI hundred put England way ahead of the par score before rain played spoilsport. Brook is the youngest England captain to score an ODI century.
Slow start for Australia
In the absence of Travis Head and Adam Zampa, Mitchell Marsh gave chance to Cameron Green and Sean Abbott. Jofra Archer returned to the side and dismissed Matthew Short with new ball. Marsh could not excel as an opener and departed after scoring 24 runs from 38 balls. He lost his wicket to Brydon Carse. Green looked in fine touch while Steve Smith took his time. Green fell to left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell and missed his fifty. Green scored 42 runs from 49 balls. Marnus Labuschagne fell for a three-ball duck to Will Jacks as he attempted a scoop shot off the spinner.
Carey, Hardie finish well
Archer came back into the attack and ended Archer's stay at the crease. Smith scored 60 runs from 82 balls including five fours. Alex Carey pushed the scoring rate in the slong overs and had support from Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie. Maxwell contributed with a 25-ball 30 before falling to Liam Livingstone whereas Hardie hit two sixes and three fours in his 26-ball 44. Carey remained unbeaten for 77 runs from 65 balls. Australia posted 304/7 on the board.
Brook, Jacks attack after Starc’s early strikes
Mitchell Starc was sensational with the new ball. Starc dismissed Philip Salt for an eight-ball duck and Ben Duckett for a single-digit score in the third over of the innings. After the double blow, Jacks and Brook did damage control in the first powerplay overs. They accelerated in the middle overs. Brook reached his fifty from 54 balls in the 20th over. An over later, Jacks completed his fifty from 55 balls. In the 28th over, Green got the breakthrough with Jacks' wicket off a short ball. His 82-ball 84 was studded with nine fours and a six. Jamie Smith could not do much with the bat and fell for a single-digit score to Green in the 32nd over.
Livingstone, Brook go after bowlers
Livingstone provided the much-needed acceleration with a couple of sixes. Brook reached his maiden ODI century with two consecutive fours off Starc in the 35th over. Livingstone continued to score at a brisk pace before rain played spoilsport in the 38th over. England were 254/4 and 46 runs ahead of the par score. The rain didn't stop and England won the match to avoid series defeat. Livingstone scored 33 runs from just 20 balls. Brook remained unbeaten for 110 off 94 balls featuring 13 fours and a couple of sixes.
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