In a remarkable display of power hitting, Liam Livingstone scored the fastest one-day international (ODI) half-century ever witnessed at Lord’s, as England achieved a commanding 186-run victory over Australia in the fourth ODI, thereby levelling the series 2-2.
England, after being put into bat by Australia, saw Livingstone arrive late in the innings and make an immediate impact. With just 8.4 overs left, Livingstone smashed seven sixes and three fours in an unbeaten 62 off 25 balls. His blitzkrieg culminated in a record-setting 12 sixes in an innings at Lord’s by one team, redefining the power-hitting standards.
England’s score was bolstered further by significant contributions from Ben Duckett (64) and captain Harry Brook (87), allowing them to post the highest ODI total ever seen at Lord’s. Setting a daunting target of 313 for Australia, England’s bowlers took control early and never relented.
Despite a promising start with Mitch Marsh (28) and Travis Head (34) quickly reaching 66-0, Australia’s innings deteriorated rapidly. England’s bowlers, led by Brydon Carse (3-36), Jofra Archer (2-33), and Matthew Potts (4-38), orchestrated a collapse that saw six wickets fall in seven overs, culminating in Australia’s eventual dismissal for 126 runs.
Following a more than two-hour rain delay, the match was reduced to 39 overs per side. England, faced with challenging conditions, initially struggled as Phil Salt (22) and Will Jacks (10) fell early. Nevertheless, Duckett’s steady innings combined with Brook’s aggressive approach steadied the ship for England.
A contentious moment arose when Josh Inglis believed he had caught Brook behind in the 17th over; however, a review showed the ball had hit the ground, drawing boos from the crowd. Brook continued to score freely until an outstanding catch by Glenn Maxwell halted his innings at 87.
Jamie Smith (39) also made substantial contributions before Livingstone’s late assault set Australia a formidable target. With Livingstone at the crease, even experienced bowlers like Mitchell Starc (0-70) struggled to contain him, leading to an impressive total.
Australia, despite their strong start, were unable to maintain momentum. Carse’s delivery to dismiss Head marked the turning point, followed by Potts removing Steve Smith (10) and Archer delivering a crucial ball to dispatch Marsh. Carse then claimed Inglis (8) and Marnus Labuschagne (4), while Archer continued the onslaught by sending Maxwell back for a duck—leaving Australia reeling at 96-6.
England’s dominance was further consolidated by Potts, who removed Sean Abbott (10), Alex Carey (13), and Adam Zampa (0), leaving Australia at 122-9. Adil Rashid (1-11) then wrapped up the innings by bowling Josh Hazelwood (0), sealing England’s victory.
England’s captain Harry Brook praised the team’s performance, highlighting the contributions of Duckett and Livingstone. “We’ve taken all the positives and the momentum and brought them here, Livingstone showed what he’s capable of tonight,” Brook remarked.
Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh conceded that England had outplayed them, attributing the loss to England’s effective pressure application and recognising Livingstone’s exceptional innings. “Fair play to England, they put us under pressure. Probably a bit above-par but Liam Livingstone played a gem of an inning,” Marsh noted.
The five-match series now stands at 2-2, with the final match to decide the winner scheduled for Sunday in Bristol. England’s emphatic performance has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the series.
