Head stars as Australia seal 3-2 England ODI series win
Cricket
Australia beat England by 49 runs in a rain-marred fifth and final one-day international on Sunday.
BRISTOL (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Travis Head starred with both bat and ball as world champions Australia beat England by 49 runs in a rain-marred fifth and final one-day international on Sunday to complete a 3-2 series win.
England were set for a huge total when opener Ben Duckett (107) and in-form captain Harry Brook (72) shared a third-wicket stand of 132 in 98 balls.
But from 202-2, slow bowling proved the undoing of an England team inexperienced in 50-over cricket as they lost their last eight wickets for 107 runs to be dismissed for 309, with part-time spinner Head taking an ODI best 4-28.
Australia made a blistering start to their chase, with Matthew Short (58) and Head (31) sharing an opening stand of 78 in slightly more than seven overs.
And when rain stopped play, Australia were 165-2 off 20.4 overs -- well ahead of the target required under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method for weather-affected white-ball games.
Steven Smith, leading Australia in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh, was 36 not out before the umpires called the game off at 6:00 pm local time (1700 GMT).
"They (England) were on track for a big total," said Marsh at the presentation ceremony. "I thought the way the bowling attack assessed the conditions to pull them back -- a fantastic effort."
'PLAYED QUITE WELL FOREVER'
Head, the player of the series with 248 runs at an average of nearly 83, including an ODI best 154 not out in the 1st ODI at Trent Bridge, and six wickets at just 10.33 apiece, said: "I didn't expect to bowl too much. We have heaps of options. It wasn't really on my radar."
The 30-year-old, who scored a century in last year's World Cup final win over India, added: "A win in the series is a great achievement. We have played quite well forever really in this format."
Brook, leading England this series in the absence of the injured Jos Buttler, said: "It's nice to get on the board, score a few runs and contribute to some wins."
But the 25-year-old was happy to hand the reins back to Buttler, adding: "Captaincy has been good. It's something I might think about in the future but I'll sit back and let Jos do it for now."
Short and Head punished a wayward England attack featuring Olly Stone, in for the rested Jofra Archer.
But Brydon Carse struck with his first ball when he had left-hander Head caught at cover.
Short went to fifty when he pulled Carse for his fourth six in just 23 balls before he was caught behind driving at Potts.
BROOK AND DUCKETT RUN RIOT
Earlier, Brook came in at 70-2 after Will Jacks was out for a duck.
Brook had struck a maiden and match-winning ODI century at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday that helped reduce England's deficit to 2-1 before his 87 laid the foundation for a colossal 186-run success at Lord's on Friday.
The Yorkshireman carried on that good form by audaciously scooping experienced fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for four.
Duckett, who made 63 at Lord's, completed a 45-ball fifty before Brook reached the landmark in just 39 balls when he drove Hardie over long-on for six.
Brook then struck leg-spinner Adam Zampa for successive sixes at the start of the 25th over.
But Zampa, holding his nerve, deceived Brook four balls later with a slower, flighted delivery the batsman miscued low to Glenn Maxwell at long-off. Zampa finished with an expensive 2-74 from his full 10 overs.
Brook's exit sparked an England slump but Duckett, out for 95 at Trent Bridge, completed his second career ODI hundred -- both made at Bristol -- in 86 balls including 13 fours and a six.
But the left-hander's first England century in all formats this season, after several close calls in both Tests and ODIs, ended soon afterwards when he holed out off Head.
