James Taylor, spinners hand England 93-run victory over Australia in the 3rd ODI

James Taylor celebrates after scoring his maiden ODI century

English spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali handed their side a comfortable victory over Australia in the third ODI at Old Trafford today. James Taylor maiden ODI ton helped England post a total of 300 in their 50 overs, a total Australia fell short off by 93 runs, thus keeping the series alive at 2-1 in favour of the visiting side.

With the controversial dismissal of Ben Stokes still fresh on everybody’s mind, the contest was a lively one and seemed to have livened up the hosts who came out all guns blazing. Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch which was expected to become difficult for batting later on. Jason Roy played out the opening over by Mitchell Starc for a maiden but stepped up the ante in the following overs, including a 17-run over off Starc, helping England reach the half-century mark in the 9th over.

Roy’s opening partner Alex Hales 9 (31) was struggling at the other end however and Pat Cummins accounted for the 26-year-old in the 10th over. Roy followed soon after becoming debutant Ashton Agar’s first victim in ODI cricket. His 45-ball 63 though had given the England innings the start that was carried forward by Morgan and Taylor.

The duo shared a 119-run partnership for the third wicket that maintained the run rate for England near to a run a ball and the final score could have been much higher if not for some brilliant fightback from the Australian bowlers, especially Cummins who finished with figures of 10-1-50-2. Despite continuing to lose partners at the other end, Taylor managed to hold his nerve and notched up his first century in the format.

Australia started their reply tentatively with Joe Burns struggling to get the ball away before holding out for 9 to Morgan who almost collided with Roy in the mid-off region. Finn was the bowler and he turned in with the assist for the next wicket pulling off a one-handed scorcher at short midwicket.

Aaron Finch, playing his first match of the series after coming in as a replacement for David Warner, and Steven Smith had forged a 42-run partnership in good time. Adil Rashid’s spinners were troubling the duo however and Smith tried to hit his way out of trouble, only for Finn’s quick reflexes to account for the Australian skipper.

Rashid’s purchase from the wicket prompted Morgan to bring in Moeen Ali into the attack as well and the duo tightened the screws on the Australian scoring while also accounting for the top order. Rashid followed up Smith’s dismissal with the wicket of half-centurion Finch while Ali picked up the wickets of Bailey and Maxwell, before returning late on to dismiss Starc.

Matthew Wade tried to offer some late resistance with a knock of 42, but it was never going to be enough as England registered their first win of the series. Taylor was awarded the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock, though the spinners too played a crucial part in the victory.

Brief scores:

England won the toss & elected to bat first

England – 300/8 (50 overs); Australia 207 all out (44 overs)

Result: England won by 93 runs.

Man of the Match – James Taylor