ENG vs AUS: Liam Livingstone’s fireworks help England level series in Cardiff

England made a comeback in the ongoing three-match T20I series against Australia as they beat them by three wickets in the second T20I on Friday, September 13 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

After being put in to bat first, Australia posted a massive score of 193/6 in their allotted 20 overs courtesy of a maiden half-century by Jake Fraser-McGurk (50 off 31). In reply, England comfortably chased down the target in 19 overs as Liam Livingstone played a breathtaking innings of 87 (47) to help his team go 1-0 up. For Australia, Matthew Short bowled a sensational spell of 5/22 in three overs which ended in vain.

Earlier in the day, being asked to bat first, Travis Head once again got Australia off to a terrific start with his knock of 31 (14) until he fell prey to Brydon Carse in the fifth over. Matthew Short also failed to convert his start and was dismissed for 28 (24) as he got cleaned up by Adil Rashid.

However, Jake Fraser-McGurk put his initial setbacks behind him and registered his maiden T20I half century, scoring 50 (31) with the help of four fours and two sixes. On the other hand, Josh Inglis (42 off 26) also maintained the scoring rate in the middle overs with his knock. In the end, Cameron Green (13* off 8) and Aaron Hardie (20* off 9) played handy cameos to guide their team to a good score of 193/6. Brydon Carse (2/26) and Liam Livingstone (2/16, 3 overs) picked up two wickets each for England.

Livingstone-Bethell butcher Australia

In reply, the hosts were rocked early by Sean Abbott who accounted for Will Jacks (12 off 10) and Jordan Cox (0 off 2) in the fourth over to leave them reeling at 34/2. Captain Philip Salt kept the required rate in check with his brisk knock of 39 off 23 before he was outfoxed by Matthew Short and got caught by Fraser-McGurk at long-on to leave England on 79/3 after 8.2 overs.

However, none of this bothered Livingstone, who butchered the Australian bowlers with his willow and tore them into pieces with his belligerent knock of 87 (47) clobbering six fours and five sixes. He was well-supported by Jacob Bethell (44 off 24) as the duo put on 90 runs for the fourth wicket off 47 balls to suck the juice out of the Australian bowling attack.

Matthew Short did try to bring his team back into the game taking four wickets in the space of 17 deliveries. However, Livingstone made sure England reached the Australian total before losing his stumps against Short and Adil Rashid scored the winning runs to take England over the line.

As a result, the hosts managed to make a comeback into the series and levelled it 1-1 with one game to play. Livingstone was adjudged Player of the Match for his all-round show.