England has forced the series to a decider back at Old Trafford, beating Australia by three wickets at Headingley.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat; no doubt based upon the fact that whoever has batted first in this ODI series so far has won.
Their innings didn’t get off to a good start however, Joe Burns chopping on off David Willey in the third over, out for two.
Steve Smith also went cheaply, out LBW to Willey, with only five to his name. Australia was scrambling at 2 for 25, only seven overs into the innings.
Willey would continue his devastating spell, catching the edge of Aaron Finch’s bat, caught behind on 15.
Glenn Maxwell and George Bailey stabilised Australia, putting on a 137-run partnership.
It was Ali who finally made the breakthrough for England, tricking Maxwell and taking out the leg stump, leaving him on 85 from 64.
From there three quick wickets put England right back on the front foot, Bailey and Marsh falling in the same over and ODI debutant Marcus Stoinis falling quickly as well.
Mitch Marsh was first to go, caught by Willey off a Liam Plunkett delivery, out for 17. Bailey went two balls later following a mis-timed push that went right back to bowler.
Marcus Stoinis didn’t bat as long or as well as he would’ve hoped on debut, a reverse sweep going straight to Adil Rashid at gully, only putting four to his name.
It was Wade, this time combining with John Hastings, who brought Australia back to a decent total at the end of the innings, with Wade making 50 from 26 and Hastings making 34 from 26.
Australia finished at 7 for 299 from their 50 overs, a good total considering the damage Willey made at the start.
As England’s innings commenced, it looked like Cummins was about to deal similar damage to what Willey had to Australia’s top order, when he trapped Alex Hales in front of the stumps on his second delivery.
But that was not to be, as Jason Roy and James Taylor put on a 72-run partnership as Australia leaked boundaries.
A switch in ends saw Cummins make the break through, when Roy went to drive a ball that stuck in the pitch, and got caught by Aaron Finch at mid-off. Roy ended at 36 from 33.
Australia needed to take more wickets, with the run rate already down to a run-a-ball, Marsh and Wade combined to dismiss Taylor.
It was Marsh who got the breakthrough again, this time dismissing Ben Stokes in the 34th over. Stokes and Morgan put on a 91-run partnership, before Marsh snuck a yorker under Stokes’ bat, bowling him on 41.
The end of the 34th over saw England at 4 for 185, needing 115 from the remaining 15 overs.
Maxwell combined with Cummins to get danger man Morgan in the 40th over, Maxwell diving to his right to catch the English captain on 92.
A successful review saw Bairstow depart at 31, being found caught behind off Maxwell, the ball brushing the glove as Bairstow tried to reverse sweep.
Maxwell was in the thick of the action again, managing to catch Plunkett right on the boundary, though he had to toss the ball back up and jump back into play to get the wicket.
Fittingly, it was Willey who got the winning runs for England, belting John Hastings for six off his second ball in the 49th over, ending not out on 12 from 9 balls, with partner Moeen Ali not out on 21 from 23.
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