ENG vs AUS | Explosive Head propels Aussies to commanding victory

Opting to bat first, England were kept under bay by the debut new-ball pair of Aaron Hardie and Ben Dwarshuis in swinging conditions until Ben Duckett let loose with four boundaries against Sean Abbott in the seventh over. However, Dwarshuis set back the momentum by rattling a length ball into Phil Salt's middle stump and the scoreboard soon read 59/1 at the end of the powerplay. Cameron Green and Matthew Short took over bowling duties and Will Jacks signalled his intent early by punishing the former for a maximum. Adam Zampa received the same treatment in the 14th over as a saga of boundaries began and the score raced to 127/1 after 20 overs with Duckett bringing up a 49-ball fifty in the process. Seven boundaries followed in the next four overs as Jacks brought up his own rapid half-century until Zampa had him holed out for a 56-ball 62 in the 25th over. Skipper Harry Brook struggled to get going early but broke free with a six off Short and another succession of boundaries led to a run-aball 48 partnership, forcing Marsh to go left field with Marnus Labuschagne. He took just three balls to have Duckett caught and bowled for 95 and Brook followed suit in his next over after smashing a four and six to depart for 39 off 31. No batters managed to get going thereafter apart from a few starts until Jacob bethell;s 34-ball 35 propelled the team to 315, even as Zampa and Labushcagnes three-fers saw the team not finish teir 50-over quota.

In response, make shift opener Mitch Marsh could not come to terms with his role and holed out cheaply off Matthew Pott. Nevertheless, Head and Steve Smith went after Jofra Archer, Potts, and Brydon Carse to be well placed at 69/1 at the end of the powerplay. The run rate quietened gradually as the fielders spread out and culminated with Smith popping one back to Livingstone after a 28-ball 32. Head and Cameron green kept the required rate in check with the odd boundary whenever opportunity arose and breezed their way to quicker than run-a-ball 73-run partnership. Even though Bethell broke the stand with his maiden scalp in the 27th over, Head brought up a 91-ball ton three overs later and there was little respite thereafter. The opener went after Carse with four boundaries in the 34th over and Marnus Labuschagne joined the party with two maximums and a boundary off Livingstone in the 37th. The runs kept leaking without mercy as Head got to his 150 with a spectacular straight six against Livingstone before Labuschagne finished things off with a boundary on the last ball off the 44th over to keep the 148-run stand unbeaten.

WHAT A FLICK BY TRAVIS HEAD AGAINST JOFRA ARCHER. 🤯pic.twitter.com/hE0Wn51kvD

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 19, 2024

He's a different beast!

TRAVIS HEAD - One of the most destructive batters currently in cricket.

— राहुल सिंह शेखावत (@RajputRahulRR) September 19, 2024

Never ending story!

19th day of the month, 3 wickets down while chasing, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne building a partnership, and Head scoring a century, this has happened before 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/8aJ2CO07yo

— Kusha Sharma (@Kushacritic) September 19, 2024

Good Night!