Australia vs England 2018, 3rd ODI: 5 things we learnt from the match

Jos Buttler cracked a spectacular hundred and pulled off a breathtaking catch of Steven Smith to help England take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the ODI series against Australia. On a sluggish wicket where the visiting batsmen found the going tough, Buttler and Woakes put on 113 in quick time to take England past 300.

In reply, Aaron Finch was in good touch yet again but Australia lost far too many wickets in the middle-overs with Butter's controversial catch of Steven Smith seemingly sealing the contest. But Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Tim Paine didn't give up easily as Australia got closer. However, England's seamers sans Liam Plunkett who pulled a hamstring were quite a handful for the hosts.

#5 England lose Roy and Hales to drives

Jason Roy's antics were cut short by Pat Cummins

With Australia's premier seamers - Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins - returning, England had their task cut out to make it three wins in a row. On a slightly two-paced surface at Sydney, shot-making was the easiest and England's high voltage batsmen, Jason Roy and Alex Hales, newly appointed at no.3, found the going tough.

Roy was the first to depart as he tried to cover drive a Pat Cummins cross-seamer only to hit it in the air to the cover fielder. Hales followed soon, trying to loft Marcus Stoinis with a drive and instead gifting a catch to the mid-on fielder in the circle. England succumbed to 45/2 after a decent start.

#4 Jos Buttler tees off to terrific hundred

Buttler was at his rampaging best for England

Armed with the license to attack this England limited-overs side is as intimidating as they come. Nobody personifies it as well as Jos Buttler, that wicket-keeper batsman with 360° shots in his repertoire. He walked in with England stuck in a rut on a sticky wicket at 107/4 having lost their sheet anchor, Joe Root, to Josh Hazlewood.

The step up was pretty quick. Buttler did not waste his time and went about his business at run a ball with help from Eoin Morgan. That didn't last long but Buttler wasn't worried as he stepped onto the next level, hoisting Pat Cummins for successive sixes to get into his nineties. He smothered the last ball of the innings for a couple of runs to get to his fifth ODI hundred.

#3 Chris Woakes finds his batting range

Woakes slammed a magnificent half-century in the third ODI

You don't, you simply don't, pull Mitchell Starc over deep backward square leg, even of an edge, in ODI cricket, unless you know to bat a bit. Chris Woakes has a pretty handy First-class record but isn't the kind of tail-ender big hitter that you want to see in limited-overs cricket. Woakes is all about the patience game and waiting to score runs.

However, the all-rounder had a different role to play with Ben Stokes unavailable and might just have hit upon his batting range in ODIs. With Jos Buttler in danger of running out of partners, Woakes put his hand up and teed off to a fabulous half-century (off just 34 balls) one that would put England right on top at the SCG in the third ODI. The duo put on 113 in 72 balls to take the visitors past the 300 run mark.

#2 Finch threatens before falling to the leg-spinner

Finch looked well set to make his third hundred of the series

Aaron Finch has been a thorn in England's flesh this series and threatened to score a third hundred, looking in ominous touch and playing some exquisite shots. He was slow to start off before bludgeoning Moeen Ali over the ropes for an 86m six to go level with the number of balls faced.

He was nearly trapped in front by Adil Rashid just before his half-century but went on to smash Joe Root for successive sixes to get past the landmark. But soon after that Adil Rashid returned to hit him flush on the pads while Finch attempted a sweep. A review could not save the opener and he was sent on his way.

#1 Controversial call has Steven Smith in a fix

A stunning catch from Buttler ended Smith's stay at the wicket

Jos Buttler pulled off a blinder of a catch behind the stumps to send back the Aussie skipper, Steven Smith. However, there emerged doubts as to whether Buttler had got his fingers under the ball. Mark Wood the bowler had eked out an edge off Steven Smith's bat with him well set on 45.

Replays were inconclusive but the soft signal from the on-field umpire was out. The crowd seemed pretty convinced that the ball had bounced before falling into Butler's mitts. Smith even took guard for the next ball after watching the replays from the ground. But there was little evidence to overturn the soft signal and much to the agony of Aussie fans, Smith was sent on his way.