Despite losing the toss and finding themselves in a precarious position at 221 for 9, Carey’s aggressive batting, particularly during a 49-run last-wicket partnership with Josh Hazlewood, propelled Australia to a total of 270 all out.
England’s batting line-up struggled in response, with the hosts slumping to 65 for 5 before being bowled out for 202, nearly 10 overs short of their allotted 50. No England batsman reached a half-century, with Jamie Smith’s 49 merely postponing the inevitable defeat.
This victory marked Australia’s 14th consecutive ODI win, a streak surpassed only by the 2003 World Cup-winning team led by Ricky Ponting, who achieved 21 straight victories.
The experienced fast bowling duo of Mitchell Starc (3 for 50) and Josh Hazlewood (2 for 54), who missed the first ODI due to illness, made early inroads into England’s batting order, setting the stage for Australia’s commanding win.
“They (England) bowled really well up front and got us in a bit of trouble, Josh Hazlewood did a fantastic job,” player-of-the-match Carey told Sky Sports, as quoted by AFP.
Mitchell Marsh made a valuable 60, but the Australia skipper felt they were a “bit short”.
“I think these days 270 always feels a little bit short. But we knew it was a new wicket and if we got early wickets we had a chance. It really goes to show those little tail-ender partnerships are really important.”
“We lost our way in the powerplay and it didn’t quite come off,” said England skipper Harry Brook about his team’s response.
The hosts suffered early setbacks when Hazlewood dismissed opener Phil Salt, who edged behind, and Starc, initially struggling with his line, removed Will Jacks for a golden duck thanks to an excellent diving catch at second slip by Matthew Short.
Starc then delivered a superb inswinging yorker to trap the hometown hero, Brook, lbw for a mere four runs.
England’s situation worsened as they slumped to 65 for 5, with paceman Aaron Hardie claiming two wickets in consecutive deliveries. Ben Duckett, who had scored an impressive 95 at Trent Bridge, was deceived by Hardie’s slower ball on 32, with the bowler taking a fine return catch.
On the very next ball, Liam Livingstone became the second batsman to depart without scoring, thanks to a brilliant diving catch down the legside by the recalled Carey, who was playing only due to Josh Inglis’ injury.
In the earlier part of the match, Marsh stood out as the sole player from Australia’s top order to surpass a score of 29.
However, Carey’s outstanding knock of 67 runs from 67 deliveries, which included eight boundaries and three impressive sixes, ensured that Australia remained competitive in the game.
England’s concerns might have heightened when Travis Head, coming off a personal best of 154 not out in the previous match on Thursday, struck sixes against both Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse.
Nevertheless, Head’s innings came to an end at 29 runs when he flicked a delivery from Carse directly to the deep backward square leg fielder. Australia found themselves at 89 for 3 when Steve Smith was dismissed for a mere four runs by a brilliant late in-swinging delivery from Potts.
Marnus Labuschagne, who had scored an unbeaten 77 at Trent Bridge, could only manage 19 runs before mistiming a pull shot off Jacob Bethell, which was caught at mid-on.
Australia suffered a rapid decline, losing three wickets for just five runs in the span of 10 deliveries, leaving them at 221 for 9.
Carey, however, reached his half-century in impressive fashion, driving the off-spinner Jacks for a six, before being the last batsman to be dismissed.
