In an exhilarating 5-match ODI series that saw momentum shift dramatically between both team, Australia emerged victorious with a 3-2 series win against England. The final match at Bristol was a fitting conclusion to an intense series, with Australia holding their nerve to claim the decider and lift the trophy .
Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first. England made 309 runs. Ben Duckett played a brilliant century innings of 107 runs. Along with him, Phil Salt also played a good innings of 45 runs. Together, they made an opening partnership of 58 runs.
Captain Harry Brooke also played a good innings of 72 runs with the help of England managed to make 309 runs. The score could have been even higher but wickets fell quickly due to England’s innings ended at 309 runs.
Australia needed 310 runs to win and keeping the rain in mind (D/L method) also had to be considered, so Australia had to play the game in this manner, so Travis Head came to bat for Australia and Matthew Short came with him, both of them started attacking from the very beginning, they scored 78 runs in 7.1 overs and then Travis Head was caught out on the bowl of Brydon Carse after scoring 31 runs.
Steve Smith came to bat and he made a partnership of 40 (33) runs with Short in the first ball. Later on 58 runs, Short goes to hit a six and is caught out. With this, Australia’s score 118-2 wickets, overs 12.4. Then Josh Inglis comes to bat at the crease. Smith and Inglis also make a brilliant partnership of 47 runs and when Australia’s score 165/2 (20.4), rain comes and the match is stopped.
The Impact of Rain and D/L Calculation
With the rain showing no signs of relenting, the match was eventually decided using the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method. Based on the calculation, Australia were comfortably ahead of the par score at the time the match was stopped, and they were declared winners by 49 runs.
Match Summary
England 309/10 (49.2)
Ben Duckett – 107 (91) , Harry Brook – 72 (52), Travis Head – 28/4
Australia 165/2
Matthew Short – 58 (30), Travis Head – 31 (26)
Australia 49-run victory by the D/L method. Both Australia and England played superb cricket and the players of both teams gave a good performance. Congratulations Team Australia for the series win.