England won by 38 runs
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Jason Roy
Batter
Bowler
A convincing win for England in the end but a heartening fightback by the Aussies made it rather interesting towards the end, only for the world's best ODI side to pull things back and go 2-0 up in the series. Another great game full of ups and downs today, rather characteristic of our enigmatic (and beloved) sport. The rain did play spoilsport throughout the first innings, in Cardiff as well as Bangalore. But the cricket transcended it all. That's it from us then. This is Rishi Roy, bidding you goodbye and good night (morning in fact), on behalf of Vineet Anantharaman, Sriram AS, and Mukesh. Keep tuning in to Cricbuzz for the latest in cricket. Ciao for now!
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Jason Roy|Player of the Match: *Receives a bottle of champagne* Didn't know that I hadn't crossed 50 in 10 matches. There's never any complacency in our change room. We strive to get better ourselves and help each other out too. Bairstow was amazing to watch. It was nice to drop anchor and nudge it around a bit while Bairstow got going. It's obviously difficult with all the chopping and changing, but it's nice to bat with Bairstow and happy with the win today.
Jos Buttler|England Captain: They were playing really well, Agar and Marsh. 10 an over is very achievable, especially the way Marsh was going. We had to fight hard, but 40 runs was a good victory margin in the end. Adil (Rashid) took the pressure off bowling at the end, and Liam continues to be one of our strike bowlers. Two great wicket-takers in recent times for us. Great to see Jason back amongst the runs. He looked good from ball one and he paced it really well. We could've got a few more. Australia bowled well in the end. Fantastic innings by Roy. Always nice to contribute, enjoying the captaincy. It's a little tricky at times, always need that extra fielder, but happy to do it and happy to go 2-0 up. We're just always striving to get better.
Tim Paine|Australia captain: I don't think there were too many runs to chase. We would've preferred less than 340. The way Marsh played showed that it could've been chased. It's great that Agar came in and brought us back into the game. If Marsh keeps playing like that he can continue in the ODI side. He has recently made a comeback to the Test side as well. We needed a few more wickets in hand when Shaun got going, but it's hard when you have to play with the tail. Shaun did really well and Agar gave us a chance with that partnership. We just didn't put the complete package together, and we have a side that is good enough. First game, we didn't bat well, and today we didn't bowl well. If you give England a chance, they will pounce. There's a reason they're the best ODI side in the world.
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19:36 Local Time, 00:06 IST: A great game and nearly a great chase! Right from Bairstow's cameo, this was England's game. Easy to say that after the game, but the total of 342 was quite intimidating on (quite literally) a sticky wicket in Cardiff - all thanks to Roy's 120 and Buttler's fireworks towards the end. 4 down at 110, the Aussies were, and no one would've given them a chance. But Agar and Marsh stitched together a 95-run stand with a never-say-die attitude typical of the Aussies, and almost pulled off an all-time highest run-chase for the Aussies. Moeen, too, did drop a catch but managed to compensate for it with a tight bowling spell. Darn right folks, they're down but not out. England, though, staged a late comeback and after Plunkett's key wicket of Marsh, it was England's game through and through as the tail failed to pick the variations of Rashid and the rest.
Plunkett to Jhye Richardson, out Caught by Roy! That's the end of that! It's all over. After a bit of a scare, courtesy Marsh and Agar, England clean things up with a clinical win! Slower one, that, and thumped away towards wide long-on where Roy tumbles across and takes a fabulous catch. Heaves a quiet sigh of relief that his hundred wasn't futile. Jhye Richardson c Roy b Plunkett 2(3)
Plunkett to Jhye Richardson, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
END OF OVER 47
9 Runs
AUS: 304 - 9
2 4 2 W 1 0
Jhye Richardson
2 (2)
Kane Richardson
0 (1)
Adil Rashid
8-0-70-3
Adil Rashid to Kane Richardson, no run, leg-break turning from middle and leg towards off, blocked off the back foot hurriedly and compactly
Adil Rashid to Jhye Richardson, 1 run, wrong'un outside off, turning back in, but enough time to crouch low and cut it towards point for a single
Kane Richardson, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Adil Rashid to Andrew Tye, out Caught by Billings! Tossed up on off, Andrew Tye lofting towards long-on through the line, rightly looking for the six, but can't clear the boundary. Straight to Billings in the deep. Just one wicket away now, are England. Andrew Tye c Billings b Adil Rashid 10(6) [4s-1]
Adil Rashid to Andrew Tye, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
Adil Rashid to Andrew Tye, 2 runs, errs in length marginally towards the shorter side, chopped away square of the wicket for a couple
Adil Rashid to Andrew Tye, FOUR, in the broom-zone again, swept hard, and Wood can't see the ball, as it just goes past him to backward square leg for four. Just didn't spot it
Adil Rashid to Andrew Tye, 2 runs, leg-break, slog-swept, top-edge, steepler, Rashid running backwards towards mid-wicket but can't quite get there
END OF OVER 46
5 Runs
AUS: 295 - 8
2 W 1 W 1 1
Andrew Tye
2 (2)
Jhye Richardson
1 (1)
Plunkett
9-1-55-3
Plunkett to Andrew Tye, 1 run, length ball just outside off, Tye opens up his stance and thumps it to mid-off, takes off for a run. Root is ever-so-quick to throw it at the non-striker's end, and Plunkett was in Tye's way. Would've been well short in case of a direct hit, and would've caused a furore. As if cricket needed more controversy today...
Plunkett to Jhye Richardson, 1 run, short of length just outside off, steered to point for a scampered single
Jhye Richardson, right handed bat, comes to the crease