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England emphatically beat Australia by 186 runs at Lord’s to level ODI series as visitor’s middle order suffers humiliating collapse

An Australian wicketkeeper in the eye of the storm and public enemy No 1 at Lord’s? It’s not the first time we have heard that story in recent memory.

The flashpoint, which overshadowed England’s 186-run victory to set up a series decider in Bristol on Saturday, broke the Lord’s crowd free from their deep freeze on a bitter afternoon and had shades of the infamous stumping of Jonny Bairstow by Alex Carey which left spectators at last summer’s Ashes Test on this ground incandescent.

This time it was Josh Inglis wearing the gloves. He claimed to have taken a clean catch down the legside off Mitchell Starc to dismiss England captain Harry Brook, on 17 at the time.

Only replays showed that the ball had clearly bounced before reaching Inglis’ gloves. Cue a tidal wave of fierce boos from around the ground. Perhaps not quite as vociferous as the one’s last summer, but a reminder that that episode still irks and won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

Last summer the crowd’s response appeared to stoke the fire in the Australians’ bellies, powering them onto a crucial victory. On Friday night, however, it did not have the same impact as England unleashed a display of brutal hitting and brilliant pace bowling under the lights.

England levelled their ongoing ODI series against Australia with an emphatic 186 run victory at Lord’s

Harry Brook top scored for England at Lord's with a score of 87 runs off just 58 balls

Harry Brook top scored for England at Lord’s with a score of 87 runs off just 58 balls

Australian wicket keeper Josh Inglis (left) claimed to have taken a clean catch with Brook on 17 at the time before replays showed the ball had touched the ground first

Australian wicket keeper Josh Inglis (left) claimed to have taken a clean catch with Brook on 17 at the time before replays showed the ball had touched the ground first

Ben Duckett also impressed as he reached a stylish half-century against Australia

Ben Duckett also impressed as he reached a stylish half-century against Australia

Brook, unperturbed by the incident, led the way for England in a game they had to win to keep the series alive, hitting 87 from just 58 balls in a partnership of 75 with Jamie Smith.

The 25 year old led from the front by taking Australia leg spinner Adam Zampa to the cleaners on his return to the side following illness. Earlier, Ben Duckett had made a bright and breezy 63 at the top of the order.

But then, just as he looked to be gliding serenely towards a second consecutive century following his maiden ODI ton earlier this week at Durham, Brook made his first and only misjudgement of the afternoon. He clothed Zampa to Glenn Maxwell on the long-on boundary and when Smith followed an over later, it looked as though England’s innings was in danger of running aground.

Instead, Livingstone responded by stamping on the accelerator. It was Australia’s snarling pacer Mitchell Starc who bore the brunt of the damage in a final over which left members and the general public alike ducking for cover.

Wherever Starc pitched the ball, Livingstone had an answer. An empathic one too. The 31-year-old cleared the ropes four times in an over which ultimately cost 28. In doing so, Livingstone reached his half-century from just 25 balls, breaking Jos Buttler’s decade-old record for the fastest ODI fifty at Lord’s.

His seven sixes were the most struck by an Englishman in an ODI on this ground too as he powered his side past 300 and to an impressive total of 312.

Australia attempted to fight fire with fire in reply but were only left with their fingers burnt.

Jofra Archer, playing his first game on this ground since delivering the super over which won England the World Cup in 2019, bowled with searing pace

Jofra Archer, playing his first game on this ground since delivering the super over which won England the World Cup in 2019, bowled with searing pace

The departure of Steve Smith started Australia's middle order collapse as he was dismissed for just five runs

The departure of Steve Smith started Australia’s middle order collapse as he was dismissed for just five runs

England's Matthew Potts (right) starred with the ball in-hand as he claimed four wickets

England’s Matthew Potts (right) starred with the ball in-hand as he claimed four wickets

Travis Head led the fightback on his return to the team, smashing an enormous six off Brydon Carse which struck the roof of the Mound stand before landing in the neighbouring St Johns Wood Road. But after Carse hit back by sneaking one through Head’s defences, England’s bowlers ran riot.

The second and third wickets followed not long after as Matthew Potts, who went on to claim career-best ODI figures of four wickets for 38 runs, brought an end to Steve Smith’s skittish and short-lived innings by having him caught behind by Jamie Smith.

Jofra Archer, playing his first game on this ground since delivering the super over which won England the World Cup in 2019, bowled with searing pace and knocked back Mitchell Marsh’s off-stump with a peach of a delivery before removing the dangerous Glenn Maxwell for just two.

It was left to Adil Rashid to wrap up a comprehensive 186-run victory by bowling Hazlewood to setup up a series decider in Bristol on Sunday.

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