Maxwell and Carey ensure series win for Australia
Third One-day international, Emirates Old Trafford.
England 302-7 (50 overs): Baristow 112, Billings 57, Zampa 3-51
Australia 305-7 (49.34 overs): Maxwell 108, Carey 106, Woakes 2-46.
Australia won by three wickets, win series 2-1
Glenn Maxw tha ensured Australia to a thrilling one-day series victory over England at Emirates Old Trafford.
Chasing 303, Maxwell hit a blazing 108 from 90 balls with Carey contributing a careful 106 to build a record breaking partnership that rescued Australia from hopeless 73-5. Maxwell fell with 15 balls remaining while Carey holed out like a defensive wall at the end of the 49th over to leave Australia needing 10 runs from the final six balls.
Mitchell Starc hooked the first ball from Adil Rashid for six, and swept a boundary making sure Australia went over the line with two balls to remaining.
Jonny Bairstow’s 112 was in vain although he helped England to recover from losing two wickets to the first two deliveries of the innings as England went on to post a challenging 302-7.
England could have dismissed Carey for nine had Jofra Archer not overstepped when the Australian wicket keeper was caught at third man off a ballooning top edge.
Australia who were whitewashed on their limited overs tour of England in 2018, went on to ensure a welcome win.
When Marnus Labnuschagne was run out at 73-5 Australia looked to be out of the contest and had no hope until Maxwell and Carey pick the perfect moment to launch a counter attack for his country. A half century came up from 48 balls, the next over Rashid was smashed so hard and high over the short leg-side boundary the ball rattled the glass of the Point building.
Australia were 222-5 with 10 overs remaining when both the players hit out, as Maxwell and Carey felt the finish line in sight.
England were left to rue missed chances.
England had this game in their grasp when Woakes continued in an excellent performance having Australian captain Aaron Finch trapped lbw and seeing Marcus Stoinis slap a slower ball to Eoin Morgan at mid wicket inside the first 10 overs. Joe Root’s part-time spin bowling trapped David Warner and had Mitchell Marsh caught behind. But Maxwell dismantling Rashid with short boundaries England allowed the pair to dominate.
England batting first found themselves 0-2 after two balls a disastrous start in a fresh pitch. Jason Roy Sliced Mitchell Starc’s first ball to Maxwell at backward point followed by Root lbw to pacy inswinger although Bairstow engineer a fine recovery ably supported by Eoin Morgan and Sam Billings.
Leg spinner Adam Zappa impressed Australia forcing errors from Morgan and Jos Butler before Billings top edged a reverse sweep to end a 114-run partnership. When Bairstow was bowled by Cummins England tail could have collapsed but for Woake’s fine half century from 38 balls.
England captain Eoin Morgan said “Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell played outstandingly well. It’s always interesting an challenge, one that the bowlers are up for. The bowlers never gave up. Sometimes when you are beaten by better side you’ve just got to put your hand up and today was one of those games.”
Australian captain Aaron Finch said “It was an incredible game of cricket action aplenty. We thought we were in trouble absolutely. Maxi is in the team to do a specific role, to try to swing the momentum. He dragged it back. That partnership was fantastic. I am really proud of both of them.”