James Taylor's maiden one-day international century and some
tight spin bowling saw England to a 93-run win over Australia at
Old Trafford on Tuesday as they kept the series alive.
Australia, set 301 to win, were dismissed for 207 with six overs of
their innings left. Victory in this day/night fixture would have
given the world champions an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-
match ODI series. But instead England -- who had lost 11 times in
their previous 12 one-dayers against Australia -- cut the tourists'
lead to 2-1 with two to play. Off-spinner Mooen Ali and leg-
spinner Adil Rashid shared five wickets between them, with Ali's
three for 32 in his full 10 overs the all-rounder's best ODI figures.
Aaron Finch, brought into the side after fellow opener David
Warner was ruled out of the rest of the series with a fractured
thumb suffered during Australia's win in the second ODI at Lord's
on Saturday, scored briskly on his way to 53.
But fellow opener Joe Burns fell for nine when he chipped
Steven Finn to England captain Eoin Morgan at mid-off.
Australia captain Steven Smith walked out to boos after upholding
an appeal for obstructing the field that led to Ben Stokes's
controversial dismissal at Lord's.
Having survived a tough chance because of the diminutive
Taylor's lack of reach, Smith (25) was brilliantly caught when
diving fast bowler Finn used his 6ft 7in frame to hold a stunning
one-handed catch at short mid-wicket off Rashid.
The Yorkshireman, gaining sharp turn, then dismissed Finch (53)
when Chris Woakes held a lofted drive at long-on.
His exit was the start of a mini-collapse that saw three wickets
lost for 35 runs to leave Australia in trouble at 141 for five.Glenn
Maxwell, after reverse-hitting Ali for two fours in as many balls,
tried to make it three in a row only to miscue and be caught off a
top edge by wicket-keeper Jonathan Bairstow.
George Bailey (25) obligingly hoiked an Ali full toss straight to
Stokes at mid-wicket. Jason Roy then held a remarkable catch,
running round from long-on, after Ashton Agar launched Liam
Plunkett high into the deep.
Roy 'lost' the ball in the floodlights and, arching backwards,
dropped a one-handed chance only to grab the ball at the second
attempt before hitting the turf. Finn ended the match emphatically
by bowling Matthew Wade (42).
Earlier, Taylor's century was the cornerstone of England's 300 for
eight after Morgan won the toss. Taylor, brought back for this
series with Ashes-winner Joe Root rested, was out for 101.
The 25-year-old Nottinghamshire batsman, playing his 21st match
at this level, faced 114 balls. His first fifty included just one four
and he managed just five in total but, significantly, he got England
to a score their bowlers could defend.
Taylor and Morgan (62), who won the toss, put on 119 for the
third wicket. But the partnership would have been curtailed had
not wicket-keeper Wade missed a stumping off ODI debutant
spinner Agar when left-hander Morgan was on 15.
Roy (63) launched England's innings in style after Morgan won the
toss with his second fifty in three innings this series. But he was
unable to better his previous highest score at this level of 67 in the
series opener at Southampton, chipping Agar to short extra-cover.
Taylor went to his hundred in nervous fashion when his drive off
Pat Cummins hit non-striker Woakes's bat and rebounded into the
stumps. He sprinted down the pitch and dived for a definitive
scrambled single.
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