An injury-ravaged Australia has been thrashed by 93 runs in the third one-day international against England, as the hosts roared back into the series on the back of a James Taylor century.
Chasing a target of 301, Australia suffered their fourth heaviest defeat to England – bowled out for 207 with only recalled opener Aaron Finch passing 50 as they crumbled under lights in Manchester with six overs remaining.
Only a fighting 42 to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, and a 35-run 10th wicket partnership with James Pattinson, helped Australia avoid the ignominy of their biggest-ever defeat to England – a 101-run loss at Birmingham in 1977.
Australia made three injury-enforced changes for the match, with David Warner (thumb), Shane Watson (calf) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (hamstring) all flying home this week.
More changes could come after the heavy loss, with the world’s No.1 bowler Mitchell Starc looking in desperate need of a break after conceding career-worst figures of 1-79.
Chasing for the first time this tour, Australia needed a bright start but didn’t get it, with Joe Burns dismissed for nine.
Steve Smith (25) and Finch put together a 42-run partnership, Australia’s best of the innings, but that came to an end in spectacular fashion.
The skipper arrived at the crease to to a chorus of boos from a boisterous crowd still aggrieved by the contentious Ben Stokes dismissal at Lord’s – and departed to the same tune, but only after an extraordinary one-handed grab by fast-bowling giant Steve Finn.
Fielding at short mid-wicket, Finn launched his 198cm frame into the air and stuck his right hand out to snare a memorable catch.
Australia never recovered, and England’s spin duo of Adil Rashid (2-41) and Moeen Ali (3-31) then strangled them out of the game during the middle overs, with the tourists losing 3-35 to fall to 5-141 as hope evaporated.
England’s Jason Roy dismissed debutant Ashton Agar with another contender for catch of the year – taking a one-handed recovery effort after spilling a ball which spiralled down from a ridiculous height to the delight of his teammates.
Earlier, Taylor’s century was well-deserved, and overdue.
At the World Cup in February, the 25-year-old was controversially left stranded on 98 in the tournament opener against Australia.
Taylor was given out lbw to Josh Hazlewood, which he successfully had overturned on review only to be told on the same ball his batting partner – Jimmy Anderson – had been run out to bring the innings to a close.
Officials later admitted that the ball should’ve been ruled dead once umpire Aleem Dar raised his finger to give Taylor out.
Taylor survived one final close call to scamper through for a single and notch the milestone.
“It was nice to finally get over the line,” he said.
A straight drive deflected onto the stumps off the bat of teammate Chris Woakes, and then back into the hands of Cummins.
The Australian quick ripped a stump from the ground in order to affect a run out, as the bails had already been broken, but not before Taylor made his ground to reach three figures.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Australia have reclaimed top spot in the ICC's Test rankings, replacing India. Despite not playing since winning 2-0 in New Zealand in March, Pat…
This series’ twelfth and final team has a distinct West Indian flavour at the top of the order, and a domineering captain.
Mitch Marsh has been appointed as Australia's men's Twenty20 captain, set to lead a squad to the World Cup that does not include Steve…
Australia are set to turn their back on rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk’s whirlwind IPL form and drop Steve Smith in their T20 World Cup…
It seems franchise cricket has forgotten about the great battle between bat and ball. In fact, this season in the IPL there is no battle at all.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
