A last-over display of power hitting by Liam Livingstone of England, an all-rounder, almost saw him equal a record of hitting most sixes in an innings at Lords in ODIs held by the great English cricketer Andrew Flintoff. Livingstone made the achievement on Friday, when England played the fourth ODI series against Australia at Lord’s. He scored an impressive 62 not out off just 27 balls. He scored three fours and seven sixes in that innings. He scored those runs at 229.63 strike rate. That innings also featured the savage onslaught on the best bowler in the Australian team, Mitchell Starc, reached at the final over of the 39th rain-affected match which was pounded for four sixes and a four totaling 28 runs.
Winning Young Player Year award means he has brought great honor right and his sharpeed in this aspect plays his great role in making it rather a 50 50 chance. Here he has achieved such milestones already. In fact 12 sixes by the England side during their innings are the highest scored by a team in an ODI match at Lords.
312 scored by England is the highest score ever attained by them while playing against Australia at Lords.
Now pertaining to the match, Australia being the visitor side won the toss and chose to bat second.
The match for England started off well with an opening partnership of 48 runs between Phil Salt (22 off 27, hitting three fours) and Ben Duckett. Though there was a brief pause due to a loss of a wicket, it was captain Harry Brook, who came and built a 79 run partnership with Ben Duckett (63 off 62 hitting 6 fours and a six) and a 75 run partnership with Jamie Smith (39 off 28, 1 four and 2 sixes) easily. While leading gracefully towards his second consecutive ODI century, Brook had to settle for 87 in 58 deliveries inclusive of 11 boundaries and a six.
Liam Livingstone (62* from 27 balls with 3 fours and 7 sixes) showed some stunning finishing skills of his own, even taking Mitchell Starc for 28 runs to help England post 312/5 after 39 overs.
Adam Zampa had the best bowling figures for his side with 2 for 66. Mitchell Marsh, Glen Maxwell, and Josh Hazlewood also chipped in with one wicket each.
While chasing down the score, openers Travis Head (34 from 23 balls with four 4s and two 6s) and Skipper Marsh (28 from 34 balls with two 4s and one 6) gave a good account of themselves putting together a 68-run partnership for the first wicket. However, after the broke the partnership, it was game over for Australia who were all out for 126 in 24.4 overs with excellent spells from Matthew Potts (4/38) and Brydon Carse (3/36). By winning this match by a margin of 186 runs, England squared the five-match series 2-2.
It was Brook who was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’.
