Luckless England lost a thriller – 2nd ODI vs. Australia

Australia 9-301 (James Faulkner 69*, Shaun Marsh 55, Glenn Maxwell 54, Joe Root 2-46) beat England 8-300 (Eoin Morgan 106, Ian Bell 68, Maxwell 2-31, Nathan Coulter-Nile 2-55) by one wicket.

The misery for the Englishmen continued on the tour when the 23-year-old young gun of Australia, James Faulkner, snatched away the match from the visitors.

England scored 300 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs and the Kangaroos powered 301 with one wicket remaining and three balls to spare.

James Faulkner (Australia) was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his heroic unbeaten knock of 69 from 47 mere balls.

The second One Day International of the five game series was played on Friday, January 17, 2014, at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane.

James Faulkner - Snatched victory from England
James Faulkner – Snatched victory from England

Earlier, Alastair Cook, won the game for the tourists and came out to bat first with Ian Bell. The first was gone at 57 after scoring 22 while the next two wickets fell in no time and England was reeling at 3-78 in 17.2 overs. Eoin Morgan associated with Bell who attained his 28th ODI fifty in the 22nd one and took the score to 139. The latter became the fourth victim for 68 whereas his partner kept on enhancing at his end with a couple of reasonable partnerships. Eoin Morgan opted to attack, smashed his sixth ODI hundred with a four and went back to pavilion for 106 off 99 with 6 big sixes and 4 fours. Joss Buttler chipped in with 49 as the visitors reached 8-300.

Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell held two wickets each whereas Mitchell Johnson got one.

The Aussies went down with two wickets for 32 and their skipper, Michael Clarke, departed at 70 for 17. George Bailey got together with Shaun Marsh who reached his 9th ODI half century in the 19th over. The latter was clean bowled by Joe Root for 55 and Bailey followed him at 120 after contributing 24 runs. Glen Maxwell continued his attack, reached his sixth ODI fifty and surrendered his wicket for 54.

The home side was struggling at 7-206 and required another 95 runs from 91 balls when James Faulkner took charge of the situation. He stood firm while a couple of wickets went down at the other side. Faulkner went past his 50 runs mark with a six and dispatched three match winning consecutive fours in the final over. The young batsman secured his end for 69 off just 47 deliveries comprising 5 giant sixes and 3 fours as the Kangaroos amassed 9-301 in 49.3 overs.

Chris Jordan, Tim Bresnan and Joe Root shared two wickets each whereas Boyd Rankin, Ben Stokes and Ravi Bopara claimed one wicket each.

Australia triumphed in the nail biter with a margin of just one wicket and leads the series at 2-0.


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