Brook’s first ODI century keeps England in series

Third one-day international, Seat Unique Riverside

Australia 304-7 (50 overs): Carey 77* (65), Smith 60 (82); Archer 2-67

England 254-4 (37.4 overs): Brook 110* (94), Jacks 84 (82)

England won by 46 runs on DLS method; Australia lead series 2-1

Scorecard

Captain Harry Brook hit a superb first one-day international century as England beat Australia in the third match to breathe life into their new era of white-ball cricket.

Chasing 305 knowing defeat would give Australia the series, stand-in skipper Brook hit 110 not out to guide his side to a 46-run victory via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method.

England were 254-4, on course for victory needing 51 runs from 74 balls, when rain curtailed the finish in Chester-le-Street.

Such a scenario looked distant when England were 11-2, the pressure on after heavy defeats in the previous two matches, but Brook started carefully and compiled a perfectly-paced knock with 13 fours and two sixes.

He put on 156 with Will Jacks and when Jacks fell for an elegant 84 from 82, Brook went on to reach his century in 87 balls.

A cameo from Liam Livingstone, who hit 33 from 20, ensured England were well ahead of the DLS par score of 208 when the rain arrived.

Brook’s knock meant England did not a rue a poor end to their bowling innings that allowed Australia to post 304-7.

The hosts can now level the five-match series at 2-2 in the fourth ODI at Lord’s on Friday.

Brook is England’s stand-in captain for this series because of injury to Jos Buttler. Three games into his tenure, this innings had all of the hallmarks of a cliched captain’s knock.

When Phil Salt was caught for a painful eight-ball duck and Ben Duckett skewed to point for eight, the memories of England’s collapses in the first two matches and their struggles in a run of 10 defeats across 14 matches in this format loomed large.

Brook, though, did what many have been asking of England. In his 18th ODI, he took six from his first 13 balls in a measured start. His first scoop shot did not come until he had scored 57.

That is not to say his innings was lacking in what has become trademark strokeplay. He crashed the ball through the off side, including hitting spinner Matt Short for a glorious six over mid-off and an upper cut to a Cameron Green bouncer.

Green had dismissed Jacks when he played the same shot, after England’s number three impressed in making his second fifty of the series in a calm partnership that laid the platform for England’s win.

When Jamie Smith pulled another Green bouncer to deep square leg, England, helped by the absence of Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa through illness, still needed 108 from 109 balls but Livingstone ensured the momentum had swung definitively to the hosts by the time the rain came.

He hit Mitchell Starc for two fours and Sean Abbott for a six in the two overs before the players left the field.

Much of what England did with the ball was good.

Brydon Carse was unfortunate not to add to the nicking off of Mitchell Marsh for 24 in an excellent opening spell and Australia’s powerplay total of 41 was their lowest in 31 ODIs.

Each time Australia, who rested in-form opener Travis Head, built a partnership a breakthrough was found.

Jacob Bethell had Cameron Green caught at straight mid-on for 42 and Steve Smith, who had taken 71 balls to reach fifty, was brilliantly caught by a diving Carse at deep square leg off Jofra Archer. At that stage Australia were 172-5.

With a small target possible, England faltered at the death as 104 runs came from the final 10 overs – 55 in the final four.

Alex Carey was the Australian to capitalise, cracking pull shots and hitting down the ground to follow 74 in the second ODI with 77 not out.

He was supported by Aaron Hardie, who hit 44 from 26 balls at number eight with Archer, in particular, punished, 31 runs coming from his final two overs.

It could have cost England but Brook ensured this was a day to reflect on the positives.

England captain and player of the match Harry Brook: “We didn’t have much of a chat between innings. I thought the pitch got better towards the end of Australia’s innings. It was a simple message of go out there and play your own game.”

“It’s nice to get the first [century] on the board and hopefully plenty more to come.”

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh: “We did extremely well to get the 300 with conditions early on, a lot of seam and it was hard work.

“They got a really partnership going, and in one-day cricket with a big partnership you can set the game up for yourself, fair play to them.”