England is chasing a 305-run target for victory against Australia at Chester-le Street’s Riverside Ground to keep the five-match ODI series alive.
After being sent in, Australia posted 7-304 despite a slow start at the Durham venue, with Steve Smith (60 from 82 balls) and Alex Carey (77 not out from 65 balls) anchoring the innings before all-rounder Aaron Hardie frustrated England’s bowlers at the death with a career-best 44 (26) that included two towering sixes.
MATCH CENTRE: England vs Australia third ODI live scorecard
Meanwhile, another fighting half-century for Australian wicketkeeper Carey has given national selectors a massive headache ahead of the home summer. The tourists were in a precarious position at 4-132 when he walked to the crease, but while his teammates struggled to tame the two-paced deck, Carey seamlessly picked up the tempo in an elegant counterattack.
Incumbent gloveman Josh Inglis, currently recovering from a quad injury, may be fighting to keep his spot in Australia’s starting XI ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan.
Watch Australia v England ODIs Live & exclusive on FOX SPORTS, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
After England captain Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bowl first, Australia’s batters copped several blows to the body as the pace bowlers wreaked havoc during the Powerplay. Captain Mitchell Marsh, elevated to opener in the absence of the sore Travis Head, doubled over in pain after Brydon Carse struck him on the chest, waving away team medics when they sprinted onto the field.
Fellow opener Matt Short wasn’t afraid to take on the short-pitched bowling, hooking England speedster Jofra Archer over deep fine leg for the first six of the match. However, the Victorian was caught on the boundary rope after attempting to replicate the stroke later in the same over, falling into the obvious trap and departing for 14.
After being beaten on the outside edge countless times, Marsh finally managed to tickle a length delivery from Carse through to the wicketkeeper, trudging off for 24.
Smith got off to a sluggish start, at one stage falling onto his backside after attempting an audacious ramp. However, the New South Welshman combined with Cameron Green for a patient 84-run partnership for the third wicket to swing momentum back in Australia’s favour.
Having survived a tricky passage of play against England’s strike bowlers, Green slapped a miscued straight drive towards catching mid-on to become Jacob Bethell’s lone victim of the afternoon. The following over, Marnus Labuschagne recklessly threw his wicket away while facing part-time tweaker Will Jacks, scooping the ball into his helmet as gloveman Jamie Smith accepted a regulation catch.
Smith reached fifty in 71 deliveries and looked on track for triple figures before a stunning piece of fielding from Carse, with the Englishman sprinting across the outfield and holding onto a lunging catch at deep square leg. Five years after their unforgettable duel at Lord’s, it marked the first time Archer had dismissed Smith at international level.
Launching into a trademark counterattack, Glenn Maxwell raced towards 30 before thumping a half-tracker from leggie Liam Livingstone to cover, throwing his head back in frustration.
Carey, who also top-scored during Sunday’s ODI at Headingley, and Hardie punished England’s fatigued bowlers at the death, clobbering 55 runs from the final four overs to end Australia’s innings with a flourish.
Follow all the action in our live blog below! Can’t see the blog? CLICK HERE
