Carey and Maxwell lift Australia to series win
England ended a summer of thrilling cricket on the wrong side of a series defeat for the first time as centuries from Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell carried Australia to a nailbiting win at Old Trafford.
The momentum shifted back and forth throughout a fiercely contested third one-day intentional, with the tourists languishing on 73 for five in pursuit of a distant 303 – a score built around Jonny Bairstow’s punchy 112 – when the sixthwicket pair came together.
They proceeded to pile on a monster stand of 212, Carey with 106 and Maxwell, pictured, bludgeoning seven sixes in his 108 to build towards an eventual three-wicket win. Not only did that condemn the hosts to a first series defeat in six across all formats this season, it also ended a five -year undefeated streak in home ODIS.
England reprieved both centurions, Carey caught off a Jofra Archer no-ball on nine and Maxwell dropped by Jo sButtl er on 44, but the pair still needed to mine deep reserves of determination, self-belief and ball-striking prowess to turn the tables on a side who have made a habit of edging tight finishes.
Eoin Morgan’s men looked like they might be about to do so again at the death, whip ping out both match-winners late on, but with ten needed off the final over Mitchell St arc took Adil Rashid for six and then hit the leg-spinner for four with two deliveries left.
Star chad started the day superbly in his primary role as a strike bowler, conjuring a bold and brilliant double breakthrough with the first two ball soft he day. His first was full, fast and flew to point after Jason Roy accepted the invitation to drive.
Joe Root was beaten even more comprehensively, Starc greeting him with a big in swinger that would have knocked over leg stump had it not thumped into the front pad.
B airs tow was admirably unruffled as he scored 41 of England’ s ten-over score of 67 for one. But Australia halted the charge by introducing Adam Zampa, who tossed it up confidently and persuaded both Morgan (23) and Jos Buttler (eight) to pick out catchers.
Bairstow needed someone to stay with him and Sam Billings obliged with a stand of 114 in just under 20 overs.
After Bairstow reached his tenth one-day century Australia removed both men before it got any worse, Billings mis-hitting a reversesweep off Zampa and Bairstow cleaned up by a well-hidden Pat Cummins slower ball – but a fine 53no from Chris Woakes ensured England reached 302 for seven.