Potts scores big win over England after Livingstone assault | Cricket

An international summer that tipped into the bitter cold of autumn is set to be decisive this Sunday after England recorded an electric 186-run victory over Australia at Lord’s. Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone went positive gangbusters with the bat, Jofra Archer and his fellow quicks much the same with the ball in hand.

It felt more like a Six Nations tournament at Twickenham than a one-day international at the Home of Cricket once the rain had given way to a shortened match. Scarves and bobble hats were fashionable for spectators, pints teetering in trembling hands. But England burned white hot, plundering 312 for five in 39 overs – Livingstone taking Mitchell Starc for 28 off the last six balls – before the tourists were bowled out for 126 in total.

Livingstone was devastating at the end of an innings already propelled by Brook and a 58-ball 87 which reversed his form from his century at Chester-le-street. The all-rounder hit Starc for four sixes and a four in that final over, with his unbeaten 62 from 27 balls whipping up the crowd. The role of Ben Duckett, who made 63 after overcoming a tricky first move, should also not be overlooked.

But perhaps the most encouraging sight was Archer playing his first match at Lord’s since the Ashes’ stunning debut five years ago and romping to a figure of two for 33. As well as lighting up Mitch’s bails Marsh with a beauty that bowed and rose up the slope. , and choking the dangerous Glenn Maxwell, he hit Marnus Labuschagne’s forearm with a delivery that, on another day, might have broken his bones. After this cruel series of injuries, the real Archer seems to be back.

Although the Durham pair of Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts would probably like to say a word here, given they shared seven wickets in what became a procession. Carse ended Travis Head’s incendiary start – the left-hander ultimately missed one for 34 – and claimed three for 36. Potts snatched the advancing Steve Smith and then smothered three from four balls to convert the team’s hopes Australia from improbable to impossible.

“It was quite a special performance,” said Brook, the England stand-in skipper. “All the bases were covered there tonight. We obviously have a superb bowling attack there with those three seamers. It was phenomenal to watch.

It was a less febrile affair than last summer’s Ashes encounter here, although there was a nod to that day when the Australian wicketkeeper was again the target of boos in the first England innings. Josh Inglis was the pantomime villain this time, however. Alex Carey played as a specialist stick, with Cameron Green ruled out with a potentially serious lower back injury. And it was a bit tough, all things considered.

Inglis had called for a catch against Brook on 17, unaware that the ball had bounced millimeters in front of his gloves on the dive. Regardless, the standard chants of ‘same old Aussies’ were merely a footnote, relegated to relative insignificance by the latest sign of Brook’s growing mastery of ODI cricket as he moved to a half-century from 37 balls with crisp ball strikes. .

Much like Tuesday’s opening hundred in the format, Brook managed to run without ever looking rushed. The shortened innings made it easier even after a moderate powerplay once Marsh had elected to bowl. No Green also meant Marsh flipped his arm for the first time since April, fooling Will Jacks with an outswinger once Josh Hazlewood ended Phil Salt’s stop-start 22 up top.

But England quickly upped the ante, Brook and Duckett combining for a stand of 79 from 53 balls which saw the return of Adam Zampa deliberately targeted. Jamie Smith chipped in with 39 off 28 once Zampa got revenge on Duckett, although he learned a lesson when a shy one to Inglis’ stumps hit the target. Smith hadn’t thrown his bat and just had his heel resting over the line at the point of impact.

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In the event, the ball ricocheted four times, to the delight of the crowd. Although decibel levels rose further when Livingstone began swinging his bat like a blacksmith at the forge, muscling in seven meaty sixes to push his side well beyond par with young Jacob Bethell, a mere spectator at the the other end. Starc, one of the greatest death bowlers in history, was pretty dismantled.

Australia briefly sputtered in response, Head generally taking on the rapids with mustachioed bravado, even clearing the Mound Stand with a single shot.

But the two white Kookaburras were doing plenty under the lights and once Carse ended Head’s fun and Potts followed up with his second out of Smith, the quicks invaded positively and the final six wickets fell for just 28 runs .

So a series that began with concerns that an experienced Australian side was too strong for a rebooted England now heads to Bristol for a winner-takes-all final. The hope now is that his gloomy weather forecasts are just as far from reality.