Carey, Maxwell lift Australia to dramatic win

Alex Carey (right) and Glenn Maxwell react 

Superb centuries from Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell inspired Australia to a dramatic three-wicket victory over England in Manchester on Wednesday as the touring side clinched the 
One-Day International (ODI) series 2-1.

The pair put on 212 runs for the sixth wicket after Australia had slumped to 73 for five chasing a stiff target of 303 runs in the final game of the series.

Earlier, Jonny Bairstow scored 112 as England recovered from losing their first two wickets to the opening two balls of the game to score 302 for seven in their 50 overs after winning the toss.

Australia lost their first five wickets cheaply but fought back brilliantly to win with two balls to spare against the world champions and inflict their first home one-day series defeat for five years.

Bairstow set about engineering a recovery, however, and England quickly pushed the run rate above six an over.

A 114-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Bairstow and Sam Billings (54) provided the backbone of the innings and Chris Woakes also contributed a rapid half century to take England past the 300-run mark.

Woakes then took the first two wickets of the Australia innings before Root, with his part-time off spin, nicked out David Warner and Mitchell Marsh cheaply to remove the tourists’ top order.

Carey and Maxwell fought back, however, dragging Australia right back into the match with lusty hitting and leaving them needing 21 runs off the last 18 balls for victory.
Australia needed 10 runs off the final over which England Captain Eoin Morgan bravely entrusted to Rashid. 

Starc smacked a six off his first ball and hit another boundary to win the game, bringing a crowded summer of international cricket to an exciting conclusion.

-REUTERS