Steve Smith’s 94 and Mitchell Starc’s four wickets (47 runs) helped Australia win the three-match ODI series with a 72-run victory over England in the second match here on Saturday. Smith’s 114-ball innings helped Australia post 280 for eight at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Stark again gave a big blow to England by taking two wickets in the very first over. James Vince (60 runs) and Sam Billings (71 runs) kept England going but Adam Zampa (4/45) and Starc dashed all hopes as they were bundled out for 208 in 38.5 overs.
Starc was controversially dropped from the squad for the team’s final group match against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup. This bowler got Jason Roy caught behind the wicket in the very first over and then bowled David Malan. Australia defeated Australia by six wickets in the first match at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. The final match of the series will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Smith had said he felt at his best for the first time in six years in the series opener in Adelaide and on Saturday he again looked in control during his innings. He did not give any chance to the bowlers before getting out. In the last four ODIs, Smith has played innings of 61, 105, 80 not out and 94 runs. During this, Smith shared a 101-run partnership with Marnus Labushen (58 runs). Labushen returned from the recent poor form even after playing this innings.
Mitchell Marsh then scored 50 to help Australia post a competitive total. Adil Rashid took three wickets for 57 runs for England. Zampa said after the match, “Victory in this series is very important for us. I feel we played some good cricket and got big wickets at the right time. We were disappointed with the World Cup performance. England is the best team and we feel a little good after beating them.
