England vs Australia 4th ODI – 5 Talking Points

England vs Australia 4th ODI – 5 Talking Points: In what can be considered one of the best ODIs played this year, England managed to pull back a stunning victory, leveling the series 2-2.  Australia, after winning the toss, chose to bat on a decent pitch for batting. In a see-saw battle consisting of individual brilliance and batting collapses, Australia eventually managed to score 299. England, coming into the match full of confidence, pulled out a stunning chase, with 3 wickets remaining and 10 balls to spare.

In an exciting battle between bat and ball, here is the England vs Australia 4th ODI – 5 Talking Points:

1. Australian top order collapsed in front of brilliant Willey:

Australia, just needing a win to seal off the series, decided to bat first after winning the toss. But that decision seemed more and more skeptical as the match progressed. David Willey, playing his first match in this series, made the batsmen uncomfortable from the go. And he was well rewarded with 3 top order wickets, all off the balls coming into the batsmen. Australia looked in a spot of trouble, at 30 for the loss of 3 wickets.

2. Maxwell and Bailey steadied the ship:

Glenn Maxwell, rather known for his flamboyant finishing and pinch hitting, was in an unfamiliar situation, coming within the 9^th over of the match. Aussie’s would have expected him to play a big role, and that he did wonderfully. Capitalizing the dropped catch within an over after coming on to bat, he paired up with ever reliant George Bailey to steady the Australian ship and help them to a respectable score. While Bailey played the role of silent partner, Maxwell punished the bad deliveries; with the highlight of his innings being a 17 run over off Adil Rashid.

3. Mini collapse and late flourish:

After Glenn Maxwell departed in the 30^th over, Bailey steadied the ship with Mitchell Marsh. But Marsh’s wicket triggered a collapse which eventually put Australia in a spot of bother, at 215 for 7. But some clean and streaky hits from wicket-keeper Matthew Wade and lower order batsman John Hastings eventually push Australia to a competitive 299.

4. Top Order impresses, Eoin Morgan’s purple patch continues:

England started off in a disastrous fashion, after losing Alex Hales in the 2^nd over. But James Taylor and Jason Roy put together a decent partnership at a very good run rate. Just when things were getting steady for England, both of them were dismissed within a short span, reducing them to 89 for 3. But captain Eoin Morgan continued to lead from the front, scoring a brisk run a ball 92. He was well supported by Ben Stokes, who could not manage to convert his start into a much needed big score.

5. English lower order take them over the line:

Just when the match looked to get out of control for the Aussies, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell pulled up an inspiring performance. Cummins got the all important wicket of Morgan, thanks to a stunning catch by Maxwell. He did not stop there, as he was involved in the other two dismissals as well, one off his own bowling to get dangerous looking Bairstow, and another stunning catch to dismiss Plunkett. But it was not enough for Australia, as the run rate was hovering around six when they were dismissed, and Moeen Ali paired up with Willey to take England home safely. Eoin Morgan won yet another MOM for his splendid 92.

With England winning the 4^th ODI in a thrilling fashion, the series decider looks even more exciting. While Australia has never lost an ODI series being two nil up, England has never won an ODI series being two nil down. Will both the streaks come to an end? Or will Aussies take the honors in the limited overs? An exciting encounter awaits us at Old Trafford.