Australia lost their way after looking well on course for a series-clinching victory losing the second ODI of the three-match series against England by 24 runs, in Manchester on Sunday. It’s 1-1 in the series now.
Chasing a 232-run target, the visitors were well past the halfway mark losing just two wickets. But then they suffered a middle-order collapse and finished on 207 in 48.4 overs to lose the match.
After losing two early wickets, Australia captain Aaron Finch (73 off 105 balls) and Marnus Labuschagne (48 0ff 59 balls) shared a 107-run partnership for the third wicket to steady the chase. But once Labuschagne was trapped leg-before by Chris Woakes in the 31st over, Australia kept losing wickets. They lost six wickets for just 22 runs in that phase.
For the hosts, Woakes, Jofra Archer and Sam Curran took three wickets each.
England were in danger of their first ODI home series defeat since 2015.
Though England’s decision to bat first appeared to backfire, with the world champions limited to 231/9, it turned out that batting was certainly not easy on the day.
No England batsman reached 50 at Old Trafford on Sunday with ODI captain Eoin Morgan (42 runs off 52 balls) and Test captain Joe Root (39 off 73) the top-scorers.
Brief scores: England 231/9 in 50 ovs (E. Morgan 42, J. Root 39; A. Zampa 3/36). Australia 207 in 48.4 ovs (A. Finch 73, M. Labuschagne 48; C. Woakes 3/32, J. Archer 3/34, S. Curran 3/35). England won by 24 runs.
