ENG vs AUS ODI Report: Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes Star as England Beat Australia in 2nd ODI to Level Series in Manchester

Woakes and Archer gave England hope of avoiding their first bilateral ODI series defeat at home since 2015 by claiming three crucial wickets each in 2nd ODI in Manchester.

Australia lost four wickets for three runs as they collapsed to a 24-run defeat against England to leave the three-match ODI series nicely poised at 1-1 at the Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday. England pacers – Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes removed Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Aaron Finch, and Glenn Maxwell in a 21-ball spell to change the tide in the hosts’ favour in the second ODI after Labuschagne and Finch had added 107 runs for the third wicket.

Chasing an average but tricky target of 232, Australia bundled out for 207 in the 49th over with the result meaning that England have extended their lead at the top of the ongoing ICC World Cup Super League. The third and final ODI which is also going to be a series decider will be played at the same venue on Wednesday.

Electing to bat, England found themselves quickly in trouble, with their openers, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, returning to the dressing room inside the first seven overs. Bairstow nicked off to Mitchell Starc for a duck, while Roy after a free-flowing start was run out by an excellent piece of fielding in the covers by Marcus Stoinis.

Joe Root and captain Eoin Morgan fought back, but just as things looked to be back on track for the hosts, leg-spinner Adam Zampa was brought on and with his third ball, had Root caught at slip at 39.

England then lost a flurry of wickets and found themselves wanting at 149/8. However, Tom Curran and Adil Rashid then mounted a fightback as they added 76 runs before Curran was dismissed for 37 with two balls left in the innings, while Rashid ended with an unbeaten 35* from only 26 deliveries as England ended their innings on 231/9 in their allotted 50 overs.

Australia didn’t have a great start as they lost quickly David Warner and Marcus Stoinis to Jofra Archer who bowled with hostility in his opening burst. However, Aaron Finch and Marnus Labuschagne held firm and took advantage once Archer was taken off and shared a 107-run stand.

Just when the visitors looked to be moving towards a comfortable victory, needing 89 runs from the last 20, they saw a dramatic collapse. Chris Woakes and Archer removed Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Finch and Glenn Maxwell in a 21-ball spell to turn the game on its head.

Pat Cummins and Alex Carey did stop the rot, but Sam Curran removed Cummins and Mitchell Starc with consecutive deliveries to put England firmly in charge and the hosts finally sealed the victory in the second-last over of the game.

Brief scores: England 231/9 (Morgan 42, Root 39; Zampa 3/36) beat Australia 207 all out (Finch 73, Labuschagne 48; Woakes 3/32) by 24 runs.