England has levelled the ODI series at 2-2 after demolishing Australia by 186 runs in a rain-affected match at Lord’s on Friday.
Chasing a 313-run target for victory in a reduced 39-over contest, the Australians were rolled for 126 in 24.4 overs after England’s quicks ripped through the top order.
It was not only England’s second-largest ODI victory against their Ashes rival in terms of runs, but also Australia’s second ODI defeat at Lord’s in the last 25 years.
MATCH CENTRE: England vs Australia fourth ODI scorecard
After being sent in, England posted 5-312 at the Home of Cricket, with skipper Brook (87 from 58 balls) doing the bulk of the damage before a late blitz from Livingstone (62 not out from 27 balls).
Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa, returning to the starting XI after an illness setback, snared two crucial wickets while seamer Josh Hazlewood impressed with economical figures of 1-40 from eight overs.
However, Carse (3-36) and Archer (2-33) ensured Australia came nowhere near reeling in the target, with Matthew Potts cleaning up the tail to finish with career-best figures of 4-38.
The Australians, who lost 10-58 in a dire collapse, were utterly outclassed in every facet of the game, with the heavy defeat setting up a series decider in Bristol on Sunday.
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“We were a bit off today,” Australian captain Mitchell Marsh said during the post-match press conference.
“Fair play to England, they put us under a lot of pressure with the bat.
“They just thoroughly outplayed us today … that’s cricket.”
The fourth ODI was reduced to a 39-over contest after a frustrating rain delay, with England openers Phil Salt and Duckett surviving the eight-over Powerplay after Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl first in overcast conditions.
Salt and England No. 3 Will Jacks departed in almost identical fashion by chipping full deliveries towards Marnus Labuschagne at point, falling victim to Hazlewood and Marsh respectively.
In a moment of deja vu, the Lord’s crowd showered Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis with boos after appealing for a catch against Brook that was shown to have bounced.
Duckett formed a 79-run partnership for the third wicket with his captain before top-edging a sweep shot against Zampa to fine leg, departing for 63 (62). Brook, who only needed 37 deliveries to pass fifty, looked destined for another century before holing out to long-on, where Glenn Maxwell held onto a superb catch.
England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith raced to 39 before slapping a cut shot towards point, with Livingstone providing some fireworks during the death overs.
Livingstone, who cleared the boundary rope on seven occasions, hammered 28 runs during the final over, delivered by Mitchell Starc, to reach fifty in just 25 deliveries, an ODI record at Lord’s. Meanwhile, England managed 12 sixes during the innings, another record at the iconic venue.
Australia’s run chase got off to a promising start, with opener Travis Head and Marsh combining for a rapid 68-run partnership before the tourists lost 6-31 in a dramatic collapse as England’s quicks wreaked havoc on the tricky surface.
Head missed a straight one for 34 and Steve Smith edged behind for 5 before Marsh copped a beauty from Jofra Archer that nipped away and crashed into the top of off stump. Carse struck twice in the 15th over, with Inglis chipping a regulation catch towards cover before Labuschagne played all around an absolute peach, bowled for 4.
Maxwell bottom-edged a pull shot against Archer for 2, with the catch sailing through to gloveman Smith, before Matthew Potts returned to clean up the tail, removing Sean Abbott, Alex Carey and Zampa in quick succession.
England spinner Adil Rashid, who was denied a marginal stumping decision against Abbott, knocked over tailender Hazlewood for a duck to secure the resounding victory.
Earlier, Cricket Australia confirmed that all-rounder Cameron Green had been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series after sustaining a back injury.
The fifth ODI between England and Australia gets underway at Bristol’s County Ground on Sunday, with the first ball scheduled for 8pm AEST.
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