Australia beat England by 49 runs (DLS) to win fifth men’s ODI and series – as it happened
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Australia Secures Series Victory With 49-Run Win
Mother Nature has triumphed over Mother Cricket, leading Australia to a victory against England in the ODI series. The match had its peculiarities, with players keeping a watchful eye on the weather, but ultimately, Australia emerged as clear victors.
Australia's spinners dominated England, who went from a solid 202 for 2 after 25 overs to just 260 for 8, ultimately collapsing to 309 all out. Travis Head claimed four wickets and then helped Australia start strong with Matthew Short. It quickly became clear that England's only hope was rain; unfortunately for them, it arrived five balls too late, with Australia well in front according to the DLS method.
It's still lightly raining at the County Ground. It looks like they won't be returning, everyone.
The covers are being put back on.
Leave me alone; it's raining once more.
The lids are being lifted.
Hey, hold on! The officials are scheduled to check the conditions at 5:10 PM. If there isn’t any more rain, we should tentatively start playing again at 5:30 PM.
“Here we go again,” remarks Phil Harrison. “Yet another year, yet another 2-2 draw between England and Australia; the Aussies were spared by the rain... Just the usual."
Um, just so you know, they’re currently ahead by a score of 3-2. Did I totally miss something?
It's still pouring rain, so I'd recommend checking out one of the other 48 live blogs we have running. The likelihood of any further action in Bristol is extremely low.
20.4 overs: Australia 165-2 (Smith 36, Inglis 28) Adil Rashid comes back to bowl, but Smith easily sends one of his deliveries to the boundary for four runs after it bounces too short. England has faced a tough day, which seemed unexpected after Harry Brook hit Adam Zampa for six sixes in just nine balls earlier on.
The rain has come, showing up five overs too late for England, and it seems the day is likely over now. It's fortunate that Australia managed to complete their 20 overs, as they definitely deserve to take the victory in this match. England's efforts to delay the game were rather poor, but at least they didn't go to any extreme measures.
Australia Leads By 45 Runs Using DLS Method
20th over: Australia 158-2 (Smith 31, Inglis 27) England has shown a lack of focus and energy while fielding, which makes me think they anticipated this match would be interrupted by rain.
Inglis sends Carse to the boundary twice in a row with powerful sixes—one with a clean pull shot and another with a lucky top edge that sails over fine leg. The match has definitely picked up, regardless of what the weather has in store, and England will likely need to take three more wickets before the rain arrives. It's time to bring the slips into play.
19th over: Australia 144-2 (Smith 30, Inglis 14) Olly Stone is back to bowl and Inglis hits him for a few boundaries. Australia is close to victory now; unless something extraordinary happens, it's likely the umpires will finish the 20th over before sending the players off the field.
18th over: Australia 133-2 (Smith 29, Inglis 4) Potts finishes the over with determination. Perhaps I'm being too critical, and it really was an authentic injury. Perhaps.
17.4 overs: Australia 133-2 (Smith 29, Inglis 4) Potts comes in to bowl, taking over from Rashid. This change might be to slow down the pace of the game or because Potts has a better chance of getting Smith out. Smith seemed to handle Rashid with ease.
The outlook for tonight is extremely poor, so once the players leave the field, it's very unlikely that they will continue playing.
Potts is asking for a change of shoes after just four deliveries. Seriously, this is disappointing from England. They've held themselves to high standards over the past few years, so resorting to such antics to try and win a two-team ODI series doesn’t reflect well on them.
"I remember this scenario all too well..." comments Ricky Ponting on Sky, referencing the 2009 Test match in Cardiff.
The game is set to start again. England needs to take two wickets within the next three overs to gain an advantage according to the DLS method.
17th over: Australia 132-2 (Smith 28, Inglis 4) Smith comes out of his defensive position and launches Carse over backward square leg for a six. It’s an impressive shot, but with time dwindling - the ground staff are ready - it could be wiser for him to just play each ball back to the bowler.
As the rain approaches and Australia is just three overs away from winning, it's time for a drinks break. Logic wins over rules once again.
16th over: Australia 125-2 (Smith 21, Inglis 4) England isn't showing any intent to slow things down. Rashid hasn't participated in Test matches for a while, but this feels like a brief Test match, with Smith primarily concentrating on staying in. Just two singles scored in this over.
15th over: Australia 123-2 (Smith 20, Inglis 3) Carse has come in for Potts and delivers a quick ball that slips past Inglis as he tries to play aggressively. Wait a minute, it looks like he got an edge! England hardly made any noise about it and didn’t even consider asking for a review. Well, that’s that.
Just one run added from that over. Smith is playing it safe now, fully aware that Australia will secure victory if they reach the 20-over mark with just two wickets lost.
14th over: Australia 122-2 (Smith 20, Inglis 2) Rashid's over saw four singles scored. However, the key point for Australia is that it only took about two to three minutes; they’re now just six overs away from clinching the series victory.
13th over: Australia 118-2 (Smith 18, Inglis 0) It looks like the rain might be the deciding factor in this match, but if England can grab two more quick wickets, they'll be right back in contention. If Australia lose two more players before the 20-over mark, the DLS target will be set at 158.
WICKET! Australia 118-2 As Potts Strikes Again
Great bowling from Matthew Potts! After Short had just hit a fantastic four through the extra cover with the previous delivery, he attempted to replicate that shot. However, Potts managed to create a slight seam movement, resulting in a faint edge that was caught by Jamie Smith.
In the 12th over, Australia stands at 113-1 with Short on 54 and Smith on 17. Adil Rashid, who is probably England's best chance for taking wickets on this surface, is brought into the game. Although he prefers not to bowl during the Powerplay, England really could have benefited from using him earlier given the circumstances.
Here he comes. He begins with a teasing legbreak that curves sharply to deceive Short, who appears quite uneasy when facing spin bowling. It’s a great over, allowing just two runs, and it wraps up with Short edging it safely to the leg side.
11th over: Australia 111-1 (Short 53, Smith 16) Carse comes in for Stone and Short launches him over midwicket for a six. That brings him to a rapid fifty off just 23 balls, thanks in part to some less-than-ideal bowling from the England side.
Carse’s remaining over goes well, yielding two runs from the other five balls. The issue is that Australia is about 50 runs above the DLS target, meaning England needs to take multiple wickets.
According to Cricbuzz, the highest number of runs scored by a captain in a bilateral ODI series against Australia is:
Here’s a rephrased version of the blog section: - 312 runs - Harry Brook (England, 2024) - 310 runs - Virat Kohli (India, 2019) - 285 runs - MS Dhoni (India, 2009) - 278 runs - Eoin Morgan (England, 2015) - 276 runs - Babar Azam (Pakistan, 2022)
10th over: Australia 103-1 (Short 46, Smith 15) Smith hits Potts and sends the ball past mid-off for a boundary. It hung in the air briefly, but it was perfectly positioned.
Potts has given Smith a hard time during this series, as he bends another delivery back in and strikes Smith high on the thigh. Short finishes the over with a shot to fine leg for four runs: Australia has managed to put up a total of 103 during the Powerplay.
Australia Dominates: 93-1
Potts has switched positions to take over from Carse, which is somewhat of an unusual choice. However, it turned out to be a fantastic one, as Potts successfully bowled on his very first ball! Smith missed a full delivery that seamed back in, leaving him trapped in front.
Smith analyzes the call, and the replays indicate that the ball would have gone past leg stump! It turns out that it moved more off the seam than expected, even when bowled from that full length.
9th over: Australia 93-1 (Short 42, Smith 10) Olly Stone begins a new spell with a loose delivery that Smith effortlessly cuts for four runs. Short then mis-hits a pull shot before hitting a chip to mid-off for another four. It looked like it might catch Brook, but ultimately it sailed over him with ease.
The most recent prediction indicates that rain will start in about 40 minutes. This will be followed by around 15 minutes of light rain before heavier downpours hit. It will be fascinating to see how England responds if they find themselves in a tough spot and the umpires suggest wrapping up the game due to rain. Hopefully, Harry Brook will tap into his inner Keith Miller and encourage the players to stay on the field.
8th over: Australia 84-1 (Short 38, Smith 5) Steve Smith nearly skews his first ball onto the wickets. The second delivery is a wide, while he manages to guide the third ball past the slip fielder for four runs. Carse has had a strong showing, demonstrating considerable potential in these limited-overs matches.
“Watching on TV during a rainy, blustery morning in Manhattan (the weather seems quite like what we have in Bristol),” remarks Thomas Walker. “I’m really enjoying this strong start from the Australians, but it appears to be way too easy for them to hit boundaries here; is the field really that small? How does it stack up against other cricket grounds globally? I’m deliberately avoiding the term 'stadium' because it honestly resembles someone’s backyard.”
Vic Marks mentioned on TMS earlier that the field has shrunk significantly compared to when he played. In particular, he pointed out that the straight boundaries are quite short now.
Australia Falls To 78-1: Head Out For 31
Travis Head sends Brydon Carse’s opening delivery directly to the cover fielder. The shot itself was a bit peculiar—a flashy back-foot drive that had little chance of surpassing Phil Salt. This wicket is significant for England, not just because it's Head, but also because if we manage to get 20 overs in, it will raise Australia's DLS target.
7th Over: Australia 78-0 (Short 38, Head 32) A missed opportunity. Short attempted to loft Potts over midwicket but ended up slicing the ball high into the sky, sending it towards Rashid positioned at short third man. The ball was caught by a gust of wind, making it difficult for Rashid to catch, and unfortunately, it ended up bouncing off his face, adding to his frustration.
Rashid faced a wide delivery and sent it flat and fast over the boundary for six runs. It's impressive batting, but I’m puzzled as to why England keeps offering him the opportunity to play his preferred shot.
David Howell starts off by saying, “It might seem like a foolish question considering the anti-draw mentality of Bazball, but is it possible for England to manipulate the over rate—either speeding it up or slowing it down—to improve or decrease their chances of reaching 20 overs depending on who’s in a better position to win? The weather forecast I’m looking at suggests it could be a close call…”
Both teams have the option to do so if they choose, but I doubt they will. The situation might change if it were a World Cup final.
6th over: Australia 66-0 (Short 27, Head 31) Harry Brook takes a risk by bringing in Will Jacks during the Powerplay. Unfortunately, it doesn't work out well for him, as Head has taken Jacks to task, scoring 20 runs off him. Head hit four beautifully through extra cover, smashed a six over mid-off, and then pulled another shot over mid-on. He finished off with a sharp cut for four, really making a statement with this performance.
5th over: Australia 46-0 (Short 27, Head 11) Short hits another six, launching the ball over square leg and out of the stadium off Potts’ delivery. He’s excellent at playing the pull shot, so it’s surprising that England keeps bowling to him. Potts tries again on the next delivery, and Short sends it through midwicket for another four runs.
Potts modifies his approach following that and is somewhat unlucky when Short manages to get a thick edge for another boundary. Short has scored 27 runs off 13 deliveries, and Australia has racked up 30 runs in the last two overs.
4th over: Australia 32-0 (Short 13, Head 11) Olly Stone's second over was expensive, giving away 16 runs. Head sent a delivery to fine leg for four runs, and then Short hammered a couple of short balls, scoring four through the off-side and hitting a six over midwicket.
The outlook has gotten a bit better, but it’s still uncertain if they will manage to complete 20 overs.
3rd over: Australia 16-0 (Short 2, Head 7) Potts switches to bowling around the wicket to try and squeeze Head for space. He starts off effectively, but then makes a mistake that costs him four leg-byes. After just two runs from his first twelve deliveries—just saying—Head finally finds his rhythm and hits a beautiful boundary past backward point.
2nd over: Australia 7-0 (Short 2, Head 2) Stone appeals for LBW after Short swings at a well-pitched delivery that nips back. The ball is too high, though. England is off to a solid start, with Stone continuing to bowl accurately, as he has been doing all summer.
1st over: Australia 4-0 (Short 2, Head 1) Australia’s DLS target will be influenced by the number of wickets they lose; we’ll update you on that as the innings approaches the 20-over mark.
Travis Head hits a few solid shots during Matthew Potts' opening over, though none manage to clear the infield. The over concludes with three singles and a leg-bye.
Alright, let's dive in: it's a showdown between Mother Cricket and Mother Nature. There's rain expected in about an hour, but if it can hold off for about 90 minutes, we should be able to play.
Krishnamoorthy V expresses his opinion: “Surely, taking four wickets and scoring a century should earn someone the man of the match title, don’t you think?”
Ben Duckett doesn’t bowl, right?
Thank you, Tim, and hello everyone. For the first 142 years of international cricket, there was just one 2-2 draw in matches between England and Australia, which took place in 1972 in a closely contested game. However, since then, we've seen two more tied series in the Ashes—one in 2019 and another in 2023. Today, we find ourselves on the brink of a third at Bristol.
If the weather report is accurate, there won't be sufficient time to complete the 20 overs required for a conclusive outcome. Even with Travis Head's skills, I'm not sure he can score 310 runs in just 15 overs. Currently, the weather in Bristol is clear, so the chase will kick off at 3 PM, but it looks like a storm is on the way.
It was quite a spectacle. Ben Duckett remained composed, Phil Salt brought flair, and Harry Brook was extraordinary. However, the Australian team possessed significantly more experience than this England lineup, and that became apparent as the match progressed. Steve Smith, returning to his familiar role, demonstrated an outstanding skill in handling part-time spinners on a compact field.
If England can dismiss Travis Head quickly, they'll stand a strong chance of winning. However, it seems that the rain is the most likely victor, with Australia close behind. That's all from me for this season! I appreciate your companionship, feedback, and discussions about whether England should declare. Our expert, Rob Smyth, will be joining you shortly.
Rashid Out: Caught By Labuschagne For 36
Rashid's impressive performance concludes as Head claims his fourth wicket. He wraps up with figures of 4 for 28, but the last partnership added 33 runs, propelling England over the 300 mark. It was certainly an enjoyable innings.
49th over: England 308-9 (Rashid 36, Stone 8) Smith continues with Connolly, and Rashid spots an opportunity. He slices the first delivery for a boundary and then sends the second one racing to the fence for another four. The audience acknowledges his effort with applause.
48th over: England 292-9 (Rashid 27, Stone 7) Smith calls upon his top bowler, Head, once again, yet the batters handle him effectively, accumulating singles.
Colum Fordham remarks, "England's performance unfolded like two different matches in one, shifting from complete control to total collapse. There was impressive batting from Duckett and Brook, alongside some remarkable spin bowling from Zampa, Maxwell, and Head. Let's hope the weather allows for an Australian batting display so we can settle the score properly."
"Having a five-match ODI series in England during September is a brilliant concept. Pure brilliance, really." Colum, while you're an old friend of the OBO, I'm a bit skeptical about your last comment. A five-match series sounds fantastic, and even if the weather doesn't cooperate, we still had enough good conditions to enjoy an exciting series.
47th over: England 292-9 (Rashid 25, Stone 4) Acknowledging his error, Smith decides to remove Starc after just one over and gives Cooper Connolly, the spinner who has had a tough time today, another chance. The batsmen manage to collect three singles.
46th over: England 289-9 (Rashid 24, Stone 3) Just moments ago, Smith was confident enough to place a short leg fielder, but as Maxwell prepares to bowl his final over, he has removed him from the field. Eoin Morgan remarks on the overly cautious setup. Maxwell allows four runs in this over, wrapping up his spell with a tidy bowling figure of 10 overs, giving away 49 runs, and taking 2 wickets.
45th over: England 285-9 (Rashid 22, Stone 1) With eight bowlers at your disposal and just one wicket remaining, the last few overs can be approached freely. Smith decides to go with a more traditional tactic and calls back Mitch Starc. Rashid gratefully takes advantage, smoothly driving the first delivery for four runs and then adding two more with a well-placed shot. England notches up nine runs in the over—finally, a hint of optimism for them!
44th over: England 276-9 (Rashid 14, Stone 0) In their last 19.1 overs, England has only managed to score 74 runs while losing 7 wickets. Meanwhile, Mike Atherton has noticed a bit of drizzle appearing on one of the Sky cameras. It's funny how it never seems to rain…
WICKET! Potts Catches By Inglis, Bowled By Maxwell
Matt Potts, showing no hesitation with either bat or ball, attempts a reverse sweep. He gets a slight edge, and Inglis manages to catch it skillfully.
