Australia is chasing a 310-run target for victory in the fifth ODI in Bristol to secure a series triumph over England.
After being sent in, England looked on track for a massive total after opener Ben Duckett (107 from 91 balls) and captain Harry Brook (72 from 52 balls) catapulted their side towards 2-202 in the 25th over.
However, the hosts lost 6-58 in a disastrous collapse as Australia’s spinners wreaked havoc on a turning deck. After struggled to find the boundary rope in the second half of the innings, England was bowled out for 309 in 49.2 overs as part-timer Travis Head finished with career-best figures of 4-28.
Openers Phil Salt and Duckett got England’s innings off to a flying start after Australian captain Steve Smith, leading his nation in the absence of the sore Mitchell Marsh, won the toss and chose to bowl first with the looming threat of rain.
Aaron Hardie snared two wickets during the Powerplay after a 58-run opening partnership, with Salt miscuing a lofted drive towards deep point for 45 and Will Jacks bowled by an absolute peach that nipped through the gate for a fourth-ball duck.
England's Ben Duckett celebrates his century. Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images
The tourists looked in deep trouble when Brook and Duckett formed a 132-run partnership for the third wicket, relentlessly clobbering Australia’s bowlers to all corners of the venue. Brook, who reached fifty in just 39 deliveries, smacked six sixes against leg-spinner Adam Zampa in a brutal assault but departed after attempting a seventh, caught at long-off by Glenn Maxwell.
England’s middle order toppled like dominoes following Brook’s dismissal, with Australia’s finger spinners unearthing plenty of turn as the innings progressed. Duckett brought up his second ODI century in 86 deliveries before falling victim to Head in the 34th over, holing out to long-off.
Maxwell bowled England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith for 6, Liam Livingstone feathered a leggie from Zampa for a third-ball duck, while Australian gloveman Josh Inglis stumped a tentative Jacob Bethell for 13.
Adil Rashid offered some late resistance, scoring a watchful 36 to steer England beyond 300 before becoming Head’s fourth victim.
