Australian captain Mitch Marsh has shrugged that his opposite number Harry Brook was “just too good” after the brilliant young batter guided England to an ODI series-saving, rain-affected victory at Chester-le-Street’s Riverside ground. Brook, standing in for the injured Jos Buttler as skipper, blasted a maiden unbeaten ODI ton to beat the bad weather too on Tuesday, ensuring England were a commanding 46 runs ahead on the DLS method when the rains came to ruin the end of an an engrossing contest. Australia badly missed star spinner Adam Zampa (illness) as the world champions’ ODI win streak was ended at 14 matches, with England now back in business at 2-1 down in the five-match series and feeling confident for the two remaining matches, at Lord’s on Friday and Bristol on Sunday.
England, chasing a tough-looking total of 7-304 headlined by another brilliant knock of 77 not out from Alex Carey, still ended up easing towards their target on 4-254, needing only 51 off 74 balls when rain started falling. More Cricket “Honestly, I thought 250 after our start would be awesome,” said Marsh, who was also missing injured star opener Travis Head. “For us to get to 300 was really good.
We were well and truly in the game at halfway – but England were too good with the bat.” Asked about Zampa’s illness absence, he added: “He’s so valuable for us. We tried everything we had, but he was a big miss.
We’ll welcome him back in a few days time at Lord’s.” Without .