[Watch] Liam Livingstone Kicks The Ball In Air After Steve Smith Falls Into His Trap
Liam Livingstone curtails Steve Smith's stay in first ODI (x.com)
Liam Livingstone delivered the timely breakthrough for hosts England in the series-opening first ODI match against Australia at Trent Bridge. Amidst a brewing second-wicket partnership for Australia between opener Travis Head and Steve Smith, Livingstone accounted for the latter’s exit with a sharp caught-and-bowled.
Smith eventually made his way back to the pavilion after scoring a fluent 32 from 28 balls with three huge sixes.
Liam Livingstone gets England back in the game
Defending 316 runs for a win, English paceman Matthew Potts had Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh holed out at deep square leg in just the fourth over of the run-chase. Unbeaten opener Travis Head led Australia’s counterattacking fightback with number three batter Steve Smith as the duo conjured 76 runs together over the course of the next 12 overs.
However, Smith’s threatening stay was curtailed in the 16th over of the chase by Liam Livingstone, who claimed a sharp caught-and-bowled and kicked the ball in the air to celebrate his breakthrough.
Earlier in the match, England whacked 315 after winning the toss and opting to bat first. After the early exit of Phil Salt, his opening partner Ben Duckett and number three Will Jacks clubbed dazzling half-centuries in their 120-run stand for the second wicket.
After England reached 213-2 in 32 overs, unlikely spin hero Marnus Labuschagne tilted the tide back in Australia’s favor with three quick wickets. Adam Zampa and part-time spinner Travis Head also joined the party by claiming five wickets between them.
The match marked the opening fixture of the ODI leg of Australia’s three-week-long tour of England. The visitors levelled the preceding three-match T20I assignment by a 1-1 margin with the Englishmen after the rain-induced washout at Manchester on September 15.