Marnus Labuschagne’s face said it all after a boundary rope incident with 12th man Mahli Beardman as England snapped Australia’s winning streak on Wednesday morning.
There were cruel scenes as the match was washed out before England was handed a 46-run victory via Duckworth-Lewis at Chester-le-Street.
England captain Harry Brook’s maiden one-day international century revived his side’s series hopes as England reached 4/254 when rain stopped play 37.4 overs into their chase.
Alex Carey (77 runs from 65 balls) and Steve Smith (60 from 82) had earlier guided Australia to 7/304 from 50 overs. It wasn’t enough.
England’s rain-soaked win means the five-match series is now poised 2-1 in Australia’s favour.
England had slumped to 11-2 after Mitchell Starc removed openers Phil Salt (nought) and Ben Duckett (eight) in the space of four balls.
But Will Jacks (84) and Brook (110 not out) then added 156 in a third-wicket partnership of good judgement as well as shot-making skill.
Australia’s frustrations in the field were highlighted by an awkward moment between Labuschagne and Beardman when the 12th man found himself in harms way while carrying the drinks on the boundary.
Marnus Labuschagne's face said it all. Photo: Fox Cricket.
Marnus Labuschagne pulled up. Photo: Fox Cricket.
Cameron Green’s shortish ball to Liam Livingstone in the 34th over was pulled high towards the rope as Labuschagne ran across in an attempt to take a daring catch — but the Aussie batter had to pull out when realising at the last second that Beardman was in the way.
Livingstone’s shot only landed one metre over the rope and replays showed Labuschagne had some hope of pulling off the catch if not for Beardman finding himself in the wrong place.
Labuschagne turned back to look at Beardman after the play and one Sky Sports commentator described it as a “death stare”.
“Oh no. Did the 12th man almost impede Labuschagne there because you do see the modern fielder leap over the boundary and either try and throw it back or palm it off to his mate,” one Sky Sports commentator said.
“I think Labuschagne may have been slightly concerned about the 12th man.”
The reverse angle doesn't look any better. Photo: Fox Cricket.
England cricket legend Nasser Hussain responded: “He sure was. He was just walking around. He’d have been in the line of sight as Labuschagne was going around.
“Labushagne has a look at him as if to say, ‘Mate, there’s a game going on here’.
“Well he gives him the stare and I can sort of understand why. I can completely understand why.”
It was a cruel way for Australia’s 11-month winning streak to end.
Player-of-the-match Brook was understandably elated by a first century in his 18 ODIs, with the 25-year-old Yorkshireman saying at the presentation ceremony: “It’s nice to get the first one on the board and hopefully plenty more to come.
“We just have to keep doing what we said we are going to do (in Friday’s fourth ODI at Lord’s) and keep being positive, take the game to them (Australia).”
Jacks missed out on a maiden century when he uppercut a Cameron Green bouncer to backward point to end an 82-ball innings featuring nine fours and a six.
Brook, however, went to 99 by driving Starc back over his head for four before a single off the paceman saw him to a an 87-ball hundred including 12 fours and two sixes.
England fans would have feared the worst when Salt clipped Starc straight to midwicket before Duckett, aiming across the line, edged the left-arm fast bowler to backward point.
But against an Australia attack missing key leg-spinner Adam Zampa through illness, Jacks and Brook turned the tide.
Earlier, Australia made 304-7 after Brook won the toss.
England captain Harry Brook celebrates. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images.
Alex Carey was 77 not out, off 65 balls, with star batsman Steven Smith making 60.
England paceman Jofra Archer took 2-67.
“I thought we did extremely well to get the 300 with conditions early on, a lot of seam and it was hard work,” said Australia captain Mitchell Marsh.
He added: “In one-day cricket with a big partnership you can set the game up for yourself, fair play to them (England).”
As for Zampa’s absence, he added: “Whenever you’re missing someone like him it’s hard work. But we’ll hopefully welcome him back in a few days.” Earlier, wicketkeeper Carey followed his 74 in the second ODI at Leeds, with another fine innings after England reduced Australia to 132-4 on Tuesday.
All-rounder Green, in for the injured Travis Head, had previously fallen for 42 and next over Australia’s 131-3 became 132-4 when Marnus Labuschagne was out for a duck after a miscued paddle-sweep off spinner Jacks lobbed gently to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
Australia’s Smith was out when a fierce pull off Archer was superbly caught by a diving Brydon Carse on the boundary.
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