England v Australia LIVE: Cricket result and reaction as Harry Brook’s men dominate in 186-run win
England levelled the series with a dominant 186-run victory over Australia at Lord’s
England levelled the series to set up a thrilling decider with a 186-run thrashing of Australia in the fourth ODI of the five-match series at Lord’s.
Liam Livingstone struck a rapid 62 at the end of England’s innings after rain delayed the start of play, forcing a shortened 39-over match, although the hosts secured victory with overs to spare.
Ben Duckett got England off to a solid start with the bat, hitting 63 runs, with Harry Brook coming close to repeating his magnificent century at the Riverside on Tuesday, but falling just 13 runs short with 87.
Liam Livingstone’s impressive display of power hitting, with seven sixes and three fours as he put on 62 from just 27 lifted England to what proved to be a match-winning total of 312.
England bowled expertly, after dismissing the opening partnership of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, the wickets tumbled quickly, as the Australians collapsed from 68 without loss to 96 for six and were unable to recover.
It was Australia’s first time back at Lord’s since Alex Carey’s infamous stumping of Jonny Bairstow during the Ashes, which led to ugly scenes in the Long Room between MCC members and touring players, but other than boos for the wicketkeeper when he came out to bat, there was none of the animosity of that affair.
Follow the latest score all the live action between England and Australia in the blog below.
Wicket! Josh Inglis out for 8! Wicket! Marnus Labuschagne out for 4! Australia 93-5 (15) Carey 1, Maxwell 0, Caarse 3-31 (5) - need 220 to win
Inglis goes for a scoop down towards fine leg, he’s hit it nicely and will get just the two runs from it.
Inglis goes for a cover drive, but he can’t get it over the fielder! It’s well taken by a jumping Will Jacks.
Alex Carey is booed as he makes his way out onto the field at Lord’s for his first match at the Home of Cricket since his infamous involvement at the ground in the 2023 Ashes.
Carey is off the mark first ball, driving down the ground for a single.
Carse strikes again! Labuschagne is out for just four! He has bowled the Australian batter.
Australia 89-3 (14) Labuschagne 4, Inglis 6, Archer 1-28 (5) - need 224 to win
Archer bowls to Labuschagne, who after being hit in the last over, defends straight back to the bowler.
The next one is an inside edge into the body and almost drops in front of him. A short ball is paddled away by Labuschagne for a single.
Wicket! Marsh out for 28! Australia 82-3 (12) Labuschagne 1, Inglis 3, Archer 1-23 (4) - need 231 runs to win
Archer has bowled Marsh! It’s a stunning ball that just goes past the outside edge and crashes into the stumps, what a beauty and it has been rewarded. Three quick wickets for England!
Laubschagne has been struck on the arm and the ball just bounces off, he goes down afterwards and that will be sore!
The physio races out on to the field and straps up the arm.
Labuschagne lets the ball go and it just goes over the stumps, at 93mph!
Australia 79-2 (11) Marsh 28, Inglis 2, Carse 1-25 (3) - need 234 runs to win
Brydon Carse, who claimed the crucial wicket of Travis Head, is back on to bowl to the new batter Inglis, he gets off the mark by turning the ball off his hip for two.
Inglis chases one outside the off stump and misses, there are heads in hands behind the bat.
Wicket! Steve Smith out for 5! Australia 75-2 (10) Marsh 28, Inglis 0, Potts 1-28 (5) - need 237 runs to win
Potts will continue, Marsh has struck it hard but to the fielder on the boundary. Smith has timed it perfectly through extra cover to get off the mark with a boundary.
Potts fires it wide outside the off stump, but just inside the blue tramlines. Smith comes down the wicket and is caught behind off the inside edge!
Travis Head out for 34! Australia 68-1 (9) Marsh 25, Smith 0, Carse 1-21 (2) - need 245 to win
Carse’s first over went for 19, but his second starts with a dot, the fielding restrictions changing after the powerplay might come into England’s favour now.
Head drives without and timing and just picks up a single. Marsh cuts away and it’s a great stop on the boundary by Phil Salt, almost just blocking it with his body on the rope.
Carse strikes! Travis Head is bowled! It was a good ball, straight and hits the top of leg stump.
Boos greet Steve Smith as he comes out to the crease. He’s beaten by the first ball which just carves him up, it was a lovely delivery.
Australia 66-0 (8) Marsh 24, Head 33, Potts 0-21 (4) - need 247 to win.
Potts has changed ends and will bowl from the pavilion end, he raps Marsh on the pads and there’s an appeal, but England have not reviewed the decision.
Marsh fires another straight drive down the ground for four.
Australia 60 (7) Marsh 20, Head 32, Carse 0-19 (1) - need 253 to win
Brydon Carse replaces Potts and Marsh just tucks the ball away for a single the first ball of his spell.
Carse goes short and Head just top-edges it for four, there was just one fielder out on the leg side at backwards square and that has gone a lot finer than that.
Head throws his hands at another and completely misses the ball, and Head cracks the next one over extra cover for four.
Australia have their 50 up already! He follows it up with the biggest six of the day so far, that has gone over the mound stand and out into the road!
The final ball of the over is flicked past fine leg for four.
Australia 41-0 (6) Marsh 19, Head 14, Archer 0-20 (3) - need 272 runs to win
Archer bowls, Head swishes and misses the ball, the next one he manages to race through for a single.
Marsh carves Archer away over backward point for four with a perfect cut shot.
He digs out a full ball for another single.
The final ball of the over is only partially stopped at midwicket, it’s a missfield and allows a couple of runs.
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