London:Centuries by Glen Maxwell and Alex Carey's and their record-breaking 212-run sixth-wicket partnership took Australia to a thrilling one-day series victory over England in the third ODI at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Chasing 303 for victory, the centuries by Maxwell and Carey were a study in contrast. While Maxwell made a blistering 108 from just 90 balls, Carey made a more measured 106 as the partnership helped rescue Australia from a precarious 73-5.
Maxwell fell with 15 balls remaining to Rashid and Carey fell to Archer at the end of the 49th over leaving Australia needing 10 runs from the final over.
That brought Mitchell Starc to the crease who hit Adil Rashid's first ball for a six, and then swept a boundary to see Australia sail home with two balls remaining.
Earlier batting first England made 302, largely on Jonny Bairstow's 112, after a dramatic start saw England losing two wickets that of JJ Roy and J E Root to Mitchell Starc to the first two deliveries of the England innings, to finally make a competitive 302-7 in their 50 overs.
Carey was nearly dismissed for nine when he was caught at third man of the bowling of Jofra Archer, but the umpire ruled it a no ball. He went on to make his first ODI century, and with Maxwell they surpassed Brad Haddin and Mike Hussey's stand of 165 against West Indies in 2006 to compile Australia's highest sixth-wicket partnership in ODIs.
When Marnus Labuschagne was run out for 20 leaving Australia reeling at 73-5, Australia looked to be completely out of the contest, but Maxwell and Carey played the innings of their life to pull Australia out of the hole.
Maxwell was the more belligerent of the two, whose half-century came up from 48 balls. He smashed Rashid so hard in the next over over the short leg-side boundary the ball rattled off the glass of the Point building.
Carey played a more subdued innings as he used an angled bat to guide the ball around the field, bringing up his fifth ODI half-century with a fine clip through mid-wicket off Chris Woakes.
Apart from Maxwells big hitting their running between the wickets was also brilliant as they put pressure on the England fielders who dropped two catches and the England bowlers losing their line and length. Their eight wide balls in the Australian innings testifying to this fact.
Australia were 222-5 with 10 overs remaining when Maxwell reached his second ODI hundred with another leg-side six, before Carey flashed a single off Woakes to reach his first ODI century.
The defeat ended England's five-year unbeaten run in home ODI series, as well as being their first series loss of the summer.(UNI)
