Australia VS England Match ball by ball Commentary

Two down, one to go - That brings us to the end of an entertaining contest, with England fighting back brilliantly to level the series at 1-1 and set up a winner-takes-all decider. Both sides have had their moments across the first two games, and it all comes down to one final showdown in Hobart. The third and final ODI will take place at Ninja Stadium on Wednesday, 18 November, with play getting underway at 3:30 AM GMT. Do join us early for all the build-up. Until then, it's goodbye and cheers!

The victorious skipper of England - Harry Brook says they put in a really good performance and that it was pleasing to see the team bounce back in that manner. He feels they were in control throughout the innings and kept Australia under pressure. Brook credits Banton for his knock and adds that the team wanted to learn from their mistakes, but knew coming into the game that it would be a much better wicket. Brook also reiterates their ambition to become one of the best fielding sides and fittest teams in the world, saying the fielding effort was outstanding, barring a couple of dropped catches.

The captain of Australia - Mitchell Marsh admits that they had hoped to exploit whatever assistance the Adelaide Oval surface might offer with the new ball, but acknowledges that England batted exceptionally well and made it difficult for the bowlers despite trying different plans throughout the innings. When asked about the decision to bowl first, he jokingly suggested that perhaps it was time to start batting first, given how often he had opted to field. Reflecting on the chase, Marsh notes that pursuing a target of 350 put them under pressure from the outset and that they felt they needed at least two of their top four to build a solid platform to have any chance of getting close.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Tom Banton wins the award for his fantastic 121 off 99 balls. He says it was his first time playing in Adelaide, although he had watched a lot of cricket here. He describes winning at the venue as a special feeling. Reflecting on the challenges of 50-over cricket, he says it can be unpredictable, with some days offering a good start while others require a grind. He also highlights the short square boundaries in Adelaide and how the match-ups worked in his favour. Banton credits Joe Root for making things easier at the crease, praising his vast experience and understanding of the game, which helps take the pressure off him.

Presentation Time...

England will be delighted with their bowling effort, with Gus Atkinson leading the charge with three early wickets and Sonny Baker chipping in to keep Australia under pressure. A couple of missed chances could have made things even better, but after a brief lull, Liam Dawson broke the big partnership before Sam Curran's double-wicket over swung the game firmly England's way. Green's dismissal to Dawson left Australia staring at defeat, and although the tail offered some resistance, Atkinson returned to claim his fourth wicket and register career-best ODI figures of 4/28, before Jofra Archer wrapped things up.

A quick chat - England's Joe Root reflects on his 15-year international career, admitting that there is still room for improvement in his fielding while emphasising his continued love for the game and his role within a relatively young and inexperienced England side. He speaks about the importance of leading by example, sharing his experience and maintaining the right attitude, acknowledging that there would be good and bad days along the way. Root also praises their batting effort, highlighting the importance of partnerships in setting up a strong finish. While he credits the openers for laying a solid platform, he was particularly pleased with Tom Banton's ability to make the most of that start and convert it into a magnificent century. He adds that Banton had worked incredibly hard, grabbed his opportunity at the top of the order, and made a valuable contribution to the team. Root further emphasises that they still had plenty of work to do after the strong start, praising the middle and lower order for building on the platform, shifting gears and pushing the total to a formidable score. He feels that reaching a total well above the venue's average winning score of 280 was an excellent effort, adding that they made a positive start with the ball to cap off a strong first half.

Banton leads charge with a stunning century - Earlier in the game, England came out firing with the bat, producing a vastly improved performance from the opening game to post their highest-ever ODI total in Australia. Tom Banton led the charge with a stunning 121 off just 99 balls, while Joe Root, Jordan Cox and Will Jacks all chipped in with fluent fifties to pile on the runs. Xavier Bartlett was the standout for Australia, claiming three wickets, and although Cooper Connolly, Riley Meredith and Spencer Johnson managed just one apiece, it was a tough outing for the hosts' bowling attack.

Australia's top-order collapse prove costly - Australia suffered a disastrous start, losing their top four for single digits to slump to 29/4. Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green offered some resistance, stitching together a valuable 98-run stand to steady the innings, with both batters bringing up fine half-centuries. Renshaw fell soon after reaching his fifty, while Green continued to fight alongside Jack Edwards, but the mounting asking rate and lack of support eventually caught up with him. His dismissal effectively ended Australia's hopes, and despite some resistance from the tail, they were bowled out for 220, suffering a massive 135-run defeat.

All square in the series - England have hit back in style to level the series and set up a decider, with both sides having enjoyed one dominant win apiece. The contest is finely poised, but the visitors will head into the final game brimming with confidence and momentum, while Australia will need to regroup and rediscover the form and intensity they showed in the opener.