“In the end, they thoroughly outplayed us today”: Australia captain Mitchell Marsh on his team’s 186-run defeat against England
LONDON (AP) — Australia endured another uncomfortable experience at the home of cricket.
Playing at Lord’s for the first time since a heated Ashes test last year when they were accused in crowd chants of cheating, the Australians were steamrollered in a 186-run loss to England in the fourth match of their ODI series on Friday.
“In the end, they thoroughly outplayed us today,” Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said.
The series is tied at 2-2 heading into the decider in Bristol on Sunday.
In a match reduced to 39 overs per side because of wet weather, England powered to 312-5 thanks to 87 from stand-in captain Harry Brook and an unbeaten 62 from Liam Livingstone, who hit 28 runs off the final over by Mitchell Starc.
Australia was bowled out for 126 in 24.4 overs, losing its 10 wickets for 58 runs having been 68-0 early in its chase.
Australia’s cricket team — the world champion in the 50-over format — rarely gets beaten as heavily as this.
After winning 14 straight games, the tourists have now lost two in a row.
Australia hadn’t played at Lord’s since a test against England in the summer of 2023 that will live long in Ashes infamy. A controversial stumping of England batter Jonny Bairstow by wicketkeeper Alex Carey led to Australia players being jeered mercilessly, with Usman Khawaja and David Warner getting verbally abused and touched by Marylebone Cricket Club members in the sacred Long Room at the lunch interval.
British newspaper The Guardian reported that security was tightened at Lord’s 15 months on, with ropes in the Long Room pushed back to widen the walkway for the teams and stairwells off limits to members when players are on the move.
Comments are closed.