Australia’s 14-match victory streak has come to an end after Harry Brook’s maiden ODI century powered England towards a 46-run triumph via the DLS Method at Riverside Ground on Tuesday.
Stand-in skipper Brook scored a career-best 110* (94) to ensure England was ahead of the DLS par score when the rain arrived at Chester-le-Street, keeping the five-match ODI series alive with two games remaining.
“It’s nice to get the first one on the board there,” Brook said after the match.
Earlier, Australia posted 7-304 despite a slow start at the Durham venue, with Steve Smith (60 from 82 balls) and Alex Carey (77 not out from 65 balls) anchoring the innings before all-rounder Aaron Hardie frustrated England’s bowlers at the death with a career-best 44 (26).
Following an early blitz from Mitchell Starc, who removed both of England’s openers during the Powerplay, Brook formed a 156-run partnership with Will Jacks for the third wicket to help England seize control of the contest.
Chasing a 305-run target for victory, the hosts were 4-254 in the 38th over when weather forced a premature end to the contest. It was Australia’s first ODI defeat since October last year.
“England were too good,” Australian captain Mitchell Marsh confessed during the post-match presentation.
England captain Harry Brook. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Meanwhile, another fighting half-century for Australian wicketkeeper Carey has given national selectors a massive headache ahead of the home summer. The tourists were in a precarious position at 4-132 when he walked to the crease, but while his teammates struggled to tame the two-paced deck, Carey seamlessly picked up the tempo in an elegant counterattack.
Incumbent gloveman Josh Inglis, currently recovering from a quad injury, may be fighting to keep his spot in Australia’s starting XI ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan.
After Brook won the toss and chose to bowl first, Australia’s batters copped several blows to the body as the pace bowlers wreaked havoc during the Powerplay. Captain Mitchell Marsh, elevated to opener in the absence of the sore Travis Head, doubled over in pain after Brydon Carse struck him on the chest, waving away team medics when they sprinted onto the field.
Fellow opener Matt Short wasn’t afraid to take on the short-pitched bowling, hooking England speedster Jofra Archer over deep fine leg for the first six of the match. However, the Victorian was caught on the boundary rope after attempting to replicate the stroke later in the same over, falling into the obvious trap and departing for 14.
After being beaten on the outside edge countless times, Marsh finally managed to tickle a length delivery from Carse through to the wicketkeeper, trudging off for 24.
Smith got off to a sluggish start, at one stage falling onto his backside after attempting an audacious ramp. However, the New South Welshman combined with Cameron Green for a patient 84-run partnership for the third wicket to swing momentum back in Australia’s favour.
Steve Smith of Australia. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Having survived a tricky passage of play against England’s strike bowlers, Green miscued a straight drive towards catching mid-on to become Jacob Bethell’s lone victim of the afternoon. The following over, Marnus Labuschagne recklessly threw his wicket away while facing part-time tweaker Will Jacks, scooping the ball into his helmet as gloveman Jamie Smith accepted a regulation catch.
Smith reached fifty in 71 deliveries and looked on track for triple figures before a stunning piece of fielding from Carse, with the Englishman sprinting across the outfield and holding onto a lunging catch at deep square leg. Five years after their unforgettable duel at Lord’s, it marked the first time Archer had dismissed Smith at international level.
Launching into a trademark counterattack, Glenn Maxwell raced to 30 before thumping a half-tracker from leggie Liam Livingstone to cover, throwing his head back in frustration.
Carey, who also top-scored during Sunday’s ODI at Headingley, and Hardie punished England’s fatigued bowlers at the death, clobbering 55 runs from the final four overs to end Australia’s innings with a flourish.
Starc (2-63 from eight overs) removed both of England’s openers during the third over of the run chase, with Phil Salt spooning a leading edge to mid-wicket for a golden duck and Ben Duckett’s thick outside edge sailing towards point. The twin dismissals lifted Starc above former teammate Mitchell Johnson to fourth spot on Australia’s overall ODI wicket-taker tally.
Australian bowler Mitchell Starc. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
The Australians would need to wait another 25 overs before unearthing another breakthrough as Brook and Jacks steadied the ship. Adam Zampa’s absence was glaring throughout the middle overs as the seamers toiled and part-time spinners proved ineffective.
In desperation, Marsh turned to a bouncer barrage that quickly paid dividends as Jacks and Smith both fell victim to Green bumpers, dismissed for 84 and 7 respectively.
Brook, later named player of the match, went from fifty to triple figures in just 33 deliveries, passing the milestone with a thick outside edge through the slips cordon. Having become the youngest England captain to score a century in men’s ODIs, the 25-year-old removed his helmet and saluted the adoring crowd.
Australia’s quicks persisted with the bouncer plan to Livingstone, who feasted on the short-pitched bowling as he raced towards 33* (20) before the heavens opened.
The fourth ODI between England and Australia gets underway at Lord’s on Friday, with the first ball scheduled for 9.30pm AEST.
