Hundred hero Brook keeps England alive in Australia ODI series
England captain Harry Brook’s maiden one-day international century revived his side’s series hopes against Australia as they beat the world champions by 46 runs at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday.
Victory in the third ODI left England 2-1 down with two to play.
England slumped to 11-2, chasing 305 to win, after Mitchell Starc removed openers Phil Salt (nought) and Ben Duckett (eight) in the space of four balls.
But Will Jacks (84) and Brook (110 not out) then added 156 in a third-wicket partnership of good judgement as well as shot-making skill.
Rain stopped play with England 254-4 off 37.4 overs.
But they were 46 runs ahead of where they needed to be under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method for weather-affected matches.
And, with a downpour preventing any further play, England had ended Australia’s run of 14 consecutive ODI wins.
Player-of-the-match Brook was understandably elated by a first century in his 18 ODIs, with the 25-year-old Yorkshireman saying at the presentation ceremony: “It’s nice to get the first one on the board and hopefully plenty more to come.
“We just have to keep doing what we said we are going to do (in Friday’s fourth ODI at Lord’s) and keep being positive, take the game to them (Australia).”
Jacks missed out on a maiden century when he uppercut a Cameron Green bouncer to backward point to end an 82-ball innings featuring nine fours and a six.
Brook, however, went to 99 by driving Starc back over his head for four before a single off the paceman saw him to a an 87-ball hundred including 12 fours and two sixes.
