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.
England 81-2 (15) Duckett 36, Brook 7, Starc 0-29 (5)
Starc begins with a gift that Brook can push away to safety off his hip for four.
Duckett and Brook rack up a flurry of runs as they keep the strike rotating, much to Starc’s frustration, who is struggling to generate any swing.
England 72-2 (14) Duckett 33, Brook 1, Marsh 1-10 (2)
Harry Brook pinches a quick single to end the over and get off the mark.
Mitchell Starc is immediately thrown the ball to try and take out the England captain.
Wicket! Jacks out for 10! England 71-2
Will Jacks slices uncomfortably over point which lands safely in no man’s land, worth a couple of runs, but a moment later he tries a similar drive and this time he’s caught at gully. A little reckless, that, though credit goes to Marsh for finding a little bit of away swing.
England 69-1 (13) Duckett 33, Jacks 8, Abbott 0-24 (3)
Will Jacks pushes Abbott casually through the leg side for four, and Duckett tries to get in on the act, swiping through thin air at a wide-ish delivery.
England have a steady 69 runs on the board through 13 overs – one third of the innings – with one wicket lost.
“With 39 overs, it’s difficult to know exactly what a good target is,” says Stuart Broad on commentary.
England 63-1 (12) Duckett 32, Jacks 3, Marsh 0-7 (1)
Mitch Marsh brings himself into the bowling attack. Jacks takes a quick single before Marsh throws in a wide, still tweaking his radar.
A too-full, too-wide ball is dealt with by Duckett, cracked over mid-off for four.
England 56-1 (11) Duckett 27, Jacks 2, Abbott 0-18 (2)
Abbott appeals vociferously after the ball crashed into Duckett’s back pad, but the umpire isn’t interested. The bowler persuades captain Marsh to review it, but the ball pitched outside leg and Australia lose their review.
Duckett finishes the over with a half-volley punched down the ground for four.
Wicket! Salt out for 22! England 49-1 (10) Duckett 21, Jacks 1, Hazlewood 1-14 (5)
Hazlewood will stay on from the Nursery End so it won’t be a double bowling change, and Duckett almost leaves himself stranded when the pushes the ball into the ground on the off side, but is sent back to the crease by Salt.
Duckett is struck on the pad next ball, but only Hazlewood appeals and the umpire thought there was an inside edge as he adds another single to his and England’s total.
Wicket! Salt has gone! He drives hard towards backward point and it has been caught, it was a thick outside edge and taken at knee height!
England had just been building on a slow but steady start but that will have dented their momentum!
Jacks get off the mark straight away with a single into the off side.
England 47-0 (9) Salt 22, Duckett 22, Abbott 0-11 (1)
Change of bowling and Abbott is into the attack, and Salt slaps him through backward point, a boundary that is cheered and it feels a long time since the last one.
The next one is also cut away through the same area and hit hard by Salt, that feels like it’s relieved a bit of pressure that had been building from the opening bowling partnership.
A very expensive over from Abbott, 12 from his opening over.
England 35-0 (8) Salt 13, Duckett 19, Hazlewood 0-13 (4)
Still no change of bowler in sight, as Hazlewood continues. Duckett looks more comfortable now against the left-handed Starc and he offers no width.
Duckett plays a smart cut shot, but it’s straight to backward point, and another one he tries to play but it’s straight into the ground.
England 33-0 (7) Salt 12, Duckett 18, Starc 0-20 (4)
Starc will continue from the Pavilion End, England’s run rate so far in this powerplay, which is expected to last eight overs.
The Australian bowler appeals loudly when Duckett is rapped on the pads, and it will be sent upstairs. The England opener will remain at the crease with DRS shown the ball on umpires call for height as it goes over middle stump.
The next ball is fired down the leg side and gives England the first extras of the innings, Duckett then slaps the next one through mid off, beating Labuschagne and bringing another boundary.
He follows it up with one through mid on the next ball for three.
Salt has got the ball through Maxwell! He is one of the best fielders in the game but goes down and can only parry that one that bounces behind for a single at backward point.
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