England went from getting absolutely shellacked two days ago to dropping a massive 135-run win on Australia today, knotting up the one-day series at 1-1. This team is a total rollercoaster, but man, when they click, they *click*. After getting bowled out for a pathetic 131 in Perth, their 355-6 today in Adelaide wasn’t just a win, it was their highest-ever ODI total on Australian soil.
Tom Banton’s Century Ignites the Batting Lineup
Talk about a comeback. England’s batters just went OFF! Tom Banton absolutely lit up the scoreboard with a fine 121 runs. This dude is pushing his case for a permanent spot, and after his second ODI hundred, how can you argue? He got hit on the helmet at 10 runs, but that just seemed to fire him up. He attacked Adelaide’s short boundaries with that pull shot like it was personal. Banton anchored a crucial 137-run partnership with Joe Root, who chipped in with 62. Then Jordan Cox came in and smashed 67 off just 49 balls, with Will Jacks adding 54 not out. After the last game, seeing this kind of fight and fire is exactly what this team needed.
Bowlers Show Up and Shut Down the Aussies
Then it was the bowlers’ turn, and they came to play. This is where England has been so frustrating, failing to defend huge totals and getting undone by wild partnerships. But today? Different story. They tore through Australia, reducing them to 29-4 inside seven overs. Gus Atkinson was an absolute beast, finishing with career-best figures of 4-28. He kept his “nip” working, getting Travis Head out for the second match in a row, and then snagged Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis caught behind. Sonny Baker, making his first appearance against Australia, was a smart selection, finding significant swing and taking the key wicket of Australia captain Mitchell Marsh for two. Even Sam Curran, who’s been on a poor run, grabbed two wickets in two balls, including bowling Jack Edwards with his signature “moon ball.” Liam Dawson also chipped in with 2-41. Yeah, they dropped a few catches, but by the end, they just closed it out.
This win corrects their course after some damaging losses and ends a seven-match losing streak against Australia in Adelaide. It also snaps a six-game skid in 50-over cricket away from home against the Aussies. England’s been wildly inconsistent, impossible to figure out, but performances like this show they absolutely have the potential to challenge at next year’s World Cup. They just gotta bring it more often.
So, the series is now tied 1-1, setting up a winner-take-all decider! Get ready, because the series finale kicks off Wednesday in Hobart. This is gonna be do-or-die for both teams, and you know England needs to bring that same fire and consistency if they want to take the series. Let’s see if they can finally put it all together.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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