England vs Australia: Tourists claim comprehensive 68-run victory in second ODI to go 2-0 up in five-match ODI series

Australia secured a decisive 68-run win against England in the second ODI at Headingley, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

As England aimed for a target of 271 to win, their batting lineup fell apart, leaving them at 65-5, facing a fierce Australian bowling performance. Ben Duckett scored 32 runs before getting out, and Liam Livingstone was dismissed without scoring on the very next ball.

Jamie Smith, aged 49, spearheaded a comeback but just missed out on reaching his fifty. Meanwhile, Adil Rashid contributed 27 runs to the total. Despite their efforts, Australia clinched an easy win by bowling England out for 202 runs in only 41 overs.

England took full advantage of winning the toss by getting rid of the threatening Travis Head (29) right away. They then sparked a collapse in the middle order, leading to the opposing team being all out for 270 in just 45 overs.

Rashid (2-42) achieved his 200th wicket in One Day Internationals, becoming the third fastest spinner to reach this milestone. He dismissed Glenn Maxwell for a low score of 7, while Steve Smith also struggled to contribute, scoring just 4 runs.

Nevertheless, captain Mitchell Marsh contributed 60 runs to the score, and a strong finish from Alex Carey, who scored 74, enabled Australia to set a total that could be defended, enhancing their chances as they wrapped up their innings.

Brydon Carse wrapped up with three wickets after conceding 75 runs, while 20-year-old Jacob Bethell and 25-year-old Matthew Potts both grabbed two wickets each, allowing just 33 and 30 runs, respectively.

Australia's victory gives them their first opportunity to secure a series win in Durham on Tuesday, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Australia's Bowlers Dominate England

In pursuit of a relatively modest goal of 271 runs, England began their innings with an aggressive approach. Opener Phil Salt quickly scored two consecutive four-run hits against Mitchell Starc, who had impressive figures of 3-50 and was back in action with a bolstered Australian bowling lineup.

Matt Short dropped a catch at first slip off a delivery from Hazlewood, which only cost the team four runs since the ball was edged behind to Carey. Shortly after, Starc managed to get Will Jacks out for a golden duck by finding the outside edge of his bat.

Harry Brook couldn't deliver a standout performance as captain on his home ground when a yorker from Starc got him leg-before-wicket, leaving the team at three wickets down by the seventh over.

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In the last over of the powerplay, Aaron Hardie (2-26) took out opener Duckett (32) and Livingstone (0) with back-to-back deliveries. Duckett slightly edged a slower delivery back to Hardie, who made a fantastic one-handed catch. He then had Livingstone caught behind, leaving England at 65-5.

Smith (49) and Bethell (25) managed to contribute 55 runs in a crucial partnership that brought England's score to 120-5. However, Bethell then hit a leading edge off Maxwell's delivery, which was easily caught by Starc positioned at backward square.

Smith was the next to be dismissed after he hit Hazlewood to mid-wicket, where substitute fielder Jake Fraser-McGurk made the catch. Meanwhile, Carse was caught at long-off by Hardie.

Rashid (27) and Potts (7 not out) managed to annoy Australia's bowlers by putting together a 25-run partnership. However, Maxwell and Starc worked together effectively to clean up the remaining batsmen.

Carey’s Late Heroics Secure Win For Australia

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Previously, Short (29) and Head (29) began Australia's innings at a slow pace, putting together a 46-run opening partnership. However, England's bowlers capitalized on the overcast conditions, quickly putting the tourists in a tough spot at 89 for 3 within the first 14 overs.

Carse (3-75) was the first to make an impact, taking the valuable wicket of Head (29), who couldn’t replicate his impressive 154 not out from the first ODI. He was dismissed after hitting a shot to deep backward square.

Short, who scored 29 runs, made a brief comeback by hitting Olly Stone for three back-to-back boundaries. However, he ended up edging a wide delivery from Potts to Smith.

Potts made an impact once more in his next over with a stunning full delivery that swung in beautifully, knocking over Steve Smith's (4) off-stump.

Marsh (60) and Marnus Labuschagne (19) provided much-needed stability to the innings with their 56-run collaboration. The Australian captain reached his fifty off just 47 balls, capped off with a six.

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Bethell (2-33) ended the partnership with a short delivery that Labuschagne hit directly to mid-on. In his next over, he successfully bowled the captain leg before wicket, putting the opposing team in a difficult position at 151-5.

Maxwell (7) was included in the team to boost the batting performance but ended up scoring just seven runs before he made a careless mistake, hitting the ball straight to Bethell, who was positioned at deep mid-wicket, off Rashid's delivery.

Carse had a rough start, giving away 16 runs in his 13th over, but he turned things around by taking out Hardie for 23 and Starc without scoring, leaving Australia struggling at 216-7 on a pitch that favored batting.

In the next over, Rashid dismissed Zampa (3) after he hit a short ball to Stone.

Carey (74) stepped up to the pitch to the chants of the Western Terrace singing "same old Aussies, always cheating," a reference to his involvement in the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow during last year's Ashes series. He was tasked with saving his team from a precarious position of 221-9.

In a twist of fate, the Australian wicketkeeper delivered a performance reminiscent of Ben Stokes, smacking eight fours and three sixes in a powerful finish that propelled the team to 270. He was eventually caught at deep cover off Stone.

"Watch Every England Vs Australia Match Live On Sky Sports"

Catch the live action of the third ODI between England and Australia on Sky Sports Cricket starting at noon on Tuesday, September 24, with the first ball set to be bowled at 12:30pm. You can also stream it without a contract through NOW.