In a rain-curtailed 39 overs per side game at Lord’s, London, hosts England outplayed Australia in all departments of the game to register a massive win by 186 runs. Ben Duckett, captain Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone went berserk and propelled England to a daunting total of 312/5. Chasing a massive target, Australia started off well but then suffered a batting collapse. Matthew Potts bagged four as Australia were bowled out for 126 in just 24.4 overs.
Duckett hits fifty
Earlier, Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to bowl first. England did not get off to a blazing start. Josh Hazlewood kept the openers quiet and dismissed Phil Salt (22) in the 10th over. Marsh introduced himself into the attack and got Will Jacks' wicket. In the middle overs, Brook and Duckett scored freely. The opener got to his fifty from 51 balls. Adam Zampa was introduced into the attack. The leg-spinner took a beating at first and then broke the partnership with Duckett’s wicket as the latter could not time the slog sweep. He scored 63 runs from 62 balls featuring six fours and a six.
Carnage from Brook and Livingstone
In the 24th over, Brook reached his fifty from 37 balls. England crossed the 200-run mark in 28th over. Again, Zampa broke the partnership. Brook went for an aerial shot but was caught at long-on by Glenn Maxwell. The skipper scored 87 runs from 58 balls including 11 fours and a six. After an expensive first over, Maxwell returned and got the wicket of Jamie Smith. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 39 runs from 28 balls. Livingstone arrived at the crease and cleared the boundary often taking the aerial route. In the last over, he went berserk. He smashed Starc for four sixes and a four. This is the most runs conceded by an Australian bowler in an over in ODIs. Livingstone remained unbeaten for 62 off 27 balls taking England's score to 312/5.
Australia suffer monumental collapse
In the run chase, Travis Head went about his business as usual. He took on Brydon Carse and hit three fours and a six in the seventh over. Carse came back well and knocked over Head with a scrambled seam delivery. Head scored 34 runs from 23 balls. In the next over, Steve Smith edged one and became Potts' first victim. Then Jofra Archer with his sheer pace knocked over Marsh who scored 28 runs from 34 balls. Marnus Labuschagne was given an early reprieve but he could not make the most of it. In the 15th over, Carse struck twice to dismiss Josh Inglis and Labuschagne.
Maxwell could not do much either and fell to Archer. The required run rate kept climbing up. After a few quiet overs, Sean Abbott hit a six and then fell to Potts. He scored 10 runs from 21 balls. In his next over, he trapped Alex Carey in front of the wicket. He was on a hat-trick but Zampa survived only to get out off the next ball. Adil Rashid got Hazlewood's wicket in the 25th over as Australia were bowled out for 126, their lowest total after a fifty-plus opening partnership. The 186-run defeat is their fourth-biggest defeat in the format. Now, the two teams will play the decider on September 29 at County Ground, Bristol.
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