England beat Australia in second ODI to level series

Jofra Archer (centre) celebrates a dismissal with his teammates 

England won the second One Day International (ODI) by 24 runs to level their three-match series against Australia after the visitors, chasing a modest target of 232, suffered a dramatic collapse in Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday.

Australia appeared to be cruising as they reached 144 for two thanks to a 107-run third-wicket partnership from Captain Aaron Finch (73) and Marnus Labuschagne (48) before capitulating to 207 all out.
Chris Woakes triggered the collapse when he had Labuschagne lbw, beginning a run which saw Australian lose three wickets for one run in eleven deliveries.

England also got themselves off the hook during their own innings. Having won the toss and chosen to bat, they ambled along at a pedestrian pace with Joe Root needing 73 balls for his 39.
They looked to be in real trouble at 149 for eight but then hit 53 runs in the last four overs with Tom Curran (37) and Adil Rashid (36) adding 76 for the ninth wicket.

Archer made two early breakthroughs in Australia’s innings when he had both David Warner and Marcus Stoinis caught by Jos Buttler to leave Australia at 37 for two.

But Finch - who escaped a run out in the first over - and Labuschagne appeared to have put Australia in charge, prompting Morgan to bring Archer and Woakes back into the attack. It paid dividends as Woakes removed Labuschagne, Finch and Glenn Maxwell while Jofra Archer bowled Mitchell Marsh to leave Australia reeling on 147 for six.

Sam Curran sprang into action as he dismissed Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in successive balls and also claimed Adam Zampa’s scalp.

Alex Carey kept Australia in contention, although it was slow going as they managed one boundary in a 16-over spell, before being stumped off Rashid in the penultimate over.

REUTERS