England fell 2-0 down in the one-day international series against Australia as their batting wilted in the second match at Headingley.

Having dismissed the tourists for 270, England's top order was blown away by Australia's high-class pace-bowling attack in a comprehensive 68-run defeat.

Will Jacks and Liam Livingstone made first-ball ducks and Harry Brook only four in his second match as England's stand-in captain.

Youngsters Jamie Smith and Jacob Bethell attempted a rebuild from 65-5 until Bethell looped a catch to depart for 25.

Smith continued to 49 but clipped Josh Hazlewood, who was superb alongside fellow returning quick Mitchell Starc, to mid-wicket and England were seven down still 112 adrift.

Adil Rashid and Brydon Carse prolonged the game with 27 and 26 respectively, but by the time the hosts were bowled out for 202 many in the stands had already gone home.

Australia were grateful for Alex Carey's 74, which dragged them from 161-6 to what proved a competitive, if chaseable, total.

Carey, having been booed to the crease for his role in last summer's Ashes stumping of Jonny Bairstow, crucially put on 49 with Hazlewood.

Australia can now clinch the five-match series with victory in the third ODI at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday.

Kick-starting a new era of 50-over cricket against the world champions was never going to be easy.

This defeat, on the back of a thrashing in Nottingham, reaffirmed the size of England's challenge.

On Thursday the batters failed to capitalise on a decent platform. This time five were out inside the powerplay with Starc and Hazlewood, who missed the series-opener through illness, once again proving themselves to be world-class operators.

Opener Phil Salt had already been dropped on eight when he was caught behind for 12 trying to slash Hazlewood off a length.

Starc had Jacks caught edging a loose drive to first slip before brilliantly setting up Brook, who was pinned in front by an inswinger yorker after a run of balls pushed across the right-hander.

Softer were the wickets of Ben Duckett, who chipped a catch back to Aaron Hardie, and Livingstone - strangled down the leg side by the seamer’s next ball. It was the second innings in succession Duckett has miscued a half-tracker.

There was some promise in the rebuild from Smith and Bethell. They played sensibly in their stand of 55, with Smith hitting Starc for one picture-perfect on-drive.

Hazlewood, who finished with 2-54 as Starc took 3-50, dismissed him in the second over of his comeback spell, however, and Australia ultimately proved a class above.

Source: BBC 

BDST: 0924 HRS, SEPT 22, 2024
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