2nd ODI: Alex Carey sparks recovery as Australia thrash England by 68 runs | Cricket News



NEW DELHI: Australia clinched victory against England by 68 runs in the second ODI at Headingley, going 2-0 up in the five-match series.
The world champions were in a precarious position at 221-9 after losing the toss.
Alex Carey shone with a brisk 74, leading a crucial last-wicket stand of 49 with Josh Hazlewood, pushing Australia to a total of 270 all out.
This score proved sufficient as England, collapsing to 65-5, were bowled out for 202 with nearly 10 overs to spare.None of the English batsmen managed to score a fifty.
Australia’s win marked their 14th consecutive ODI victory, second only to their 2003 World Cup-winning team’s streak of 21 consecutive wins.
Mitchell Starc (3-50) and Josh Hazlewood (2-54) delivered early blows in England’s chase, having missed the previous game at Trent Bridge due to illness.
Jamie Smith’s 49 only delayed England’s downfall. When he chipped Hazlewood to midwicket, England were left at 159-7 in the 31st over.
Hazlewood troubled England’s innings by having Phil Salt edge behind, while Starc’s inswinging yorker trapped England captain Harry Brook lbw for just four.
England found themselves in deep trouble at 65-5 after Aaron Hardie took two wickets in consecutive balls.
Ben Duckett, who made 95 at Trent Bridge, was deceived on 32 by Hardie’s slower ball, the bowler taking a fine return catch.
On the next ball, Liam Livingstone fell for a golden duck, brilliantly caught down the legside by the diving Carey.
Earlier, Mitchell Marsh (60) was the sole top-order Australian batsman to score above 29 runs.
Carey’s outstanding 67-ball innings, featuring eight fours and three sixes, ensured Australia reached a competitive total.
England’s concerns grew when Travis Head, after his career-best 154 not out on Thursday, started strong but fell for 29 after hitting sixes off Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse.
Head flicked Carse straight to deep backward square leg, reducing Australia to 89-3 in the 14th over.
Steve Smith was bowled for just four by a superb late inswinger from Matthew Potts, leaving Australia at 89-3.
Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 77 not out at Trent Bridge, only managed 19 before mistiming a pull off Jacob Bethell to mid-on.
Australia then slipped to 151-5 when Bethell, playing his second ODI, trapped Marsh lbw with a superb delivery after Marsh missed a sweep.
Three wickets fell quickly, making Australia 221-9.
Carey reached his fifty by driving off-spinner Jacks for six, but was the last man out.
The series continues at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday.