Australia Clinches Win in a Rainy Match

Australia sealed a 3-2 series victory over England in a rain-affected fifth Metro Bank One-Day International in Bristol, frustrating the hosts’ hopes of a series turnaround. England, having fought back from a 2-0 deficit to level the series, posted a total of 309 in their innings after being asked to bat first. Ben Duckett led with an impressive 107, marking his second century in ODIs, while captain Harry Brook contributed a solid 72.

Despite the promising start that saw England race to 202-2 in under 25 overs, a familiar collapse followed. The team lost eight wickets for just 107 runs, all of them falling to spin, and were bowled out in their final over. Brook's dismissal sparked the slide, as England struggled to maintain their early momentum.

In reply, Australia came out firing. Openers Travis Head and Matt Short thrashed 78 runs within the first seven overs, putting the visitors in a strong position. Although Head fell for 31 and Short followed after scoring 58, Australia's early assault put them well ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) target, with rain clouds looming over the match.

As rain approached, England attempted to slow the pace of the game, hoping that the necessary 20 overs for a result would not be bowled in time. However, Steve Smith, standing in as captain for the injured Mitchell Marsh, held firm. Having already survived an lbw call through a successful review, Smith’s unbeaten 36 ensured that Australia remained ahead of the DLS par score. Rain eventually interrupted play in the 21st over, with Australia on 165-2, 49 runs ahead, sealing the series win.

The loss marked another missed opportunity for England, who had never come back from 2-0 down to win an ODI series 3-2. Despite their impressive resurgence in the previous two matches, the inexperience of England's youthful batting lineup was exposed in the decider, as they failed to capitalise on Bristol's short boundaries. Australia, with their seasoned approach, took advantage of the weather conditions, knowing that maintaining wickets would keep them ahead in the chase.

Throughout the game, missed chances by England added to their struggles. Adil Rashid dropped a catch when Short was on 27, and a thin edge from Josh Inglis was missed behind the stumps when he was on two. Even with these missteps, Australia remained comfortably ahead of the DLS target.

England’s collapse mirrored their performance in the first ODI in Nottingham, where they tumbled from 213-2 to 315 all out. This time, Head's part-time off-spin did the damage, claiming 4-28, and England's boundary count dwindled after their initial flurry of 31 boundaries in the first 25 overs.

Phil Salt played aggressively for his 45, while Brook showcased his power with seven sixes, five of them off Adam Zampa. However, his dismissal to Zampa, miscuing a long-off, signalled the start of England’s slide. Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, and Jacob Bethell all fell cheaply, leaving Duckett to hold the innings together with a calm approach. He managed 13 fours and two sixes before falling to Head at long-off, ending England's hopes of a late rally.

While England showed flashes of potential throughout the series, they remain a work in progress as they prepare for their next white-ball assignment: a tour of the Caribbean starting on 31 October, featuring three ODIs and five T20s.