XtraTime Web Desk: Brilliant centuries from Glenn Maxwell (108 off 90 balls) and Alex Carey (106 off 114 balls) guided Australia to a 3 wicket win over World Champions England at Old Trafford on Wednesday. It was the first series loss for Eoin Morgan’s side this summer and also the first against Australia at home since 2015.
Batting first England posted a total in excess of 300 runs (302/7) after being 0-2 in the first over bowled by Mitchell Starc. The left arm pacer took the wickets of Jason Roy and Joe Root off consecutive deliveries. But the World Champions responded brilliantly, thanks to Jonny Bairstow (112 off 126 balls), Sam Billings (57 off 58 balls) and Woakes (53* off 39 balls).
Chasing 303 runs to win, the visitors found themselves in a bit of a hole as they were 73/5 at one stage. But Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey shared a partnership of 212 runs between them for the sixth wicket to bail Australia out of the trouble. Both batsmen were dismissed trying to get their team home. Maxwell, who brought up his 2nd ODI hundred in 84 balls was caught trying to sweep Adil Rashid in the 48th over. Carey soon followed as he was latched on by third man off the bowling of Jofra Archer. Australia still needed 10 runs off the last over bowled by Adil Rashid.
Mitchell Starc (11* off 3 balls) played a cameo, as he smacked the first ball back over Rashid’s head for six and then swept the fourth away for four as Australia inflicted a first home ODI series defeat on their arch-rivals since they triumphed 3-2 in 2015.