England’s collapse allows Australia to win the second ODI and the series

England Implodes, Handing Australia the Second ODI and the Series Australia clinched the three-match one-day international series against England with a 72-run victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground.Australia clinched the one-day international series against England with a 72-run victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday. Sam Billings and James Vince shared a 122-run fourth-wicket partnership for England, who were chasing 281 runs to tie the series after Australia won the first match in Adelaide on Thursday. The English disintegrated after Vince was trapped lbw by stand-in Australian skipper Josh Hazlewood for 60, losing 4-13 and effectively handing the match to the Australians.

Steve Smith continued the form he displayed in Australia’s six-wicket victory in Adelaide by contributing 94 runs to Australia’s total of 280-8 on a difficult pitch at the SCG.

The objective always appeared challenging on a slow-playing surface with the occasional ugly bounce.

And England’s run chase got off to the worst possible start when Jason Roy flicks Mitchell Starc’s second delivery down the leg side to Alex Carey, the keeper.

Three balls later, Starc took the crucial wicket of Dawid Malan with a nearly unplayable delivery that pitched on leg stump and swung back to take the top off, leaving England reeling at two wickets for 0 runs.

But Salt attempted one too many big shots, moving away to attempt to smash Hazlewood over cover, only to miss and have the ball smash into his stumps.

Vince and Billings shattered any dreams Australia may have had of destroying the English batting order.

Before Vince was caught by Hazlewood while attempting to lift the Australian captain over the square leg boundary, the two batsmen raised the score to 156 by combining caution with aggression.

Moeen Ali, captain of England, hammered leg spinner Adam Zampa for four and six before missing a top spinner and being bowled.

At 168-5 after 28.3 overs, Australia regained control, and one run later, when Zampa bowled Billings for 71, they reinforced their hold.

As Starc (4-47), Hazlewood (2-33), and Zampa (4-45) wrapped up the English tail, England continued to lose wickets.

After Hazlewood won the toss and elected to bat, Smith’s 94 from 114 deliveries anchored the Australian innings.

Hazlewood was selected in place of Pat Cummins, who was rested in preparation for the forthcoming Test series against the West Indies.