Harry Brook, the captain of England, delivered a remarkable maiden ODI century to lead his side to a commanding DLS victory over Australia, keeping the five-match series alive with two games remaining. England triumphed by 46 runs in a rain-affected contest that saw Australia’s 15-match ODI winning streak come to an end.
Australia posted a challenging 304 on the board, overcoming difficult early conditions. Steve Smith anchored the innings with a patient 60, while Alex Carey’s unbeaten 77 and Aaron Hardie’s 44 off 26 balls added late acceleration. Carey and Hardie capitalized in the final 10 overs, adding 68 runs in just over seven overs. Australia’s total looked imposing, particularly as England’s batting had been inconsistent in previous games.
The match, however, swung dramatically in England’s favor after a shaky start. Mitchell Starc dismissed both England openers cheaply in a fiery over, reducing them to 11-2. Yet, Brook and Will Jacks responded with a game-changing partnership of 156 runs, shifting the momentum back to England.
Brook, showing poise beyond his years, navigated the chase with authority. Jacks played his part, contributing 84 in the partnership, before falling. Liam Livingstone then provided the finishing touches with a blistering unbeaten 33. Brook remained calm under pressure, moving to 110 not out as the rain began to fall. At 254-4 after 37.4 overs, England were well ahead of the required rate under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. With a revised target of 209, England was awarded the 46-run victory after rain halted play.
Brook, reflecting on the win, emphasized the importance of building a solid partnership. “Myself and Will just tried to create a platform. We knew the pitch was improving, so it was about playing our own game and keeping the scoreboard ticking,” he said. Brook’s century marked his first as England captain and demonstrated his ability to lead from the front.
Australia’s innings was built around Smith’s 60, but it was Carey’s late surge that pushed their total beyond 300. Early on, Smith and the Australian batsmen found scoring difficult on a damp pitch, particularly with Travis Head unavailable due to injury. Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse both bowled crucial spells, with Carse taking a stunning diving catch to dismiss Smith just as he looked to accelerate.
Australian captain Mitch Marsh praised his team’s effort to reach 304 but acknowledged that England’s key partnership took the game away from them. “We thought 250 would be a good score in those conditions, but we did well to push it past 300. Unfortunately, their big partnership made all the difference,” Marsh said.
With the series now 2-1 in Australia’s favor, both teams head to Lord’s on Friday. England, buoyed by their first win in the series, will look to carry their momentum forward. Brook remains optimistic, stating, “We need to keep being positive and putting them under pressure. That’s how we’ll succeed.”
For Australia, the loss ends a long winning streak, but they will be eager to regroup and finish the series on a high.