ENG vs AUS [WATCH]: Marnus Labuschagne’s golden arm strikes as Ben Duckett falls short of his century in the 1st ODI

Marnus Labuschagne, primarily known for his batting, stepped up with the ball during the 1st ODI between England and Australia at Nottingham on Thursday (September 19). Despite being a part-time bowler, Labuschagne’s leg-spin proved highly effective, as he claimed two vital wickets in quick succession. His breakthrough came at a critical juncture, removing England’s top scorer, Ben Duckett, just as he was closing in on a well-deserved century. Labuschagne’s clever variations and his ability to extract something from the pitch gave Australia a much-needed shift in momentum.

Ben Duckett’s heartbreaking dismissal at 95

Duckett’s dismissal was the turning point of the match. Batting with composure and elegance, Duckett had constructed a superb innings, scoring 95 runs from 91 deliveries with 11 fours, setting a solid platform for England at 213/2. Just as Duckett was on the verge of reaching three figures, Labuschagne delivered a short ball outside off-stump, which held up on the pitch. In an attempt to drive the ball, Duckett mistimed it and ended up spooning a simple catch back to the bowler. Labuschagne gleefully accepted the catch, celebrating the prized wicket as Duckett was left in disbelief. His dismissal came at a crucial time for England, slowing down their run rate and leaving them 213/3 in the 33rd over.

Here’s the video:

Labuschagne gets Duckett for 95 with a simple caught and bowled! 😲 pic.twitter.com/OPLeQ075yA

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 19, 2024

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Marnus Labuschagne’s game-changing spell

Labuschagne’s wicket of Duckett wasn’t a one-off stroke of luck. He followed it up by removing Harry Brook soon after, reducing England to 232/4. In just two overs, Labuschagne changed the complexion of the match, finishing with figures of 2/18. His second wicket, Brook, who had been playing aggressively with 39 runs off 31 balls, was another important scalp that halted England’s charge. Brook misjudged a delivery that stuck in the pitch. Attempting to play an aggressive shot, he ended up popping a simple return catch to Labuschagne, who reacted swiftly to take the catch by his bootstraps.

England’s batting progress against Australia

Though Duckett’s departure was a setback, England still had firepower to drive their innings forward. At the time of Labuschagne’s intervention, England had reached 240/4 in 36 overs. Duckett’s partnership with Will Jacks (62 off 56 balls) had earlier taken England to 168/2. Now, with Jamie Smith (9*) and Liam Livingstone (6*) at the crease, the hosts will be looking to regain momentum and aim for a competitive total closer to 350. However, Labuschagne’s key wickets mean Australia will feel they are still in with a strong chance of restricting England in the final phase of the innings.

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