6, 0, 6, 6, 6, 4: Ruthless Livingstone hits Starc out of the park, scores 28 runs in a single over!
Bristol: England's Liam Livingstone delivered a stunning performance against Australia in the fourth One Day International, leading his team to a massive 186-run victory. The win levels the five-match series at 2-2, with the final ODI set to take place on Sunday.
Livingstone shone with the bat, scoring an impressive 62 runs off just 27 balls, helping England post a formidable total of 312 runs for the loss of five wickets in 39 overs. Australia's response faltered as they were bowled out for 126 runs.
The highlight of the match came when Livingstone faced Australian pace star Mitchell Starc. In the final over of the innings, with England needing 16 runs to reach 300, Livingston smashed Starc for three consecutive sixes, followed by a boundary, amassing 28 runs in that over alone. Starc, who bowled eight overs, conceded 70 runs in total.
With this victory, England looks to build momentum heading into the final match of the series.
‘England outplayed us’
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh admitted that England put his team under a lot of pressure and outplayed them.
"Fair play to England, they put us under a lot of pressure. They completely outplayed us. Probably a bit above-par, Liam Livingstone played a gem of an innings. In a run-chase like that, you need one or two big partnerships. England bowled really well, we lost wickets continuously. That is cricket. It is going to be a great experience (final ODI), we obviously would have liked to wrap up the series in the last couple of games. England have come back really strongly, we go to Bristol, excited for the opportunity," he added.
Australia had won the toss and opted to field first.
England started off with a fine 48-run opening stand between Phil Salt (22 in 27 balls, with three fours) and Ben Duckett. After a brief stumble, skipper Harry Brook recorded a 79-run partnership with Duckett (63 in 62 balls, with six fours and a six) and a 75-run partnership with Jamie Smith (39 in 28 balls, with a four and two sixes). Brook missed out on a well-deserved second-successive ODI ton, scoring 87 in 58 balls, with 11 fours and a six.
Adam Zampa (2/66) was the pick of the bowlers. Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood got a wicket each.
In the run-chase, openers Travis Head (34 in 23 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and skipper Marsh (28 in 34 balls, with two fours and a six) provided a fine start with a 68-run stand. However, after their partnership was broken, it was all downhill for Australia who was skittled out for 126 in 24.4 overs, thanks to brilliant spells from Matthew Potts (4/38) and Brydon Carse (3/36). England levelled the five-match series 2-2 with a 186-run win.
Brook secured the 'Player of the Match' award. (With inputs from Agencies)