England were hoping to taste victory on their tour down under for the first time when they faced Australia in the second one-day international at Brisbane.
Eoin Morgan scored a superb century for the tourists, who suffered a 5-0 Ashes whitewash and the lost the opening 50-over game by six wickets on Sunday.
Ian Bell also contributed 68 and Jos Buttler smashed 49 as Alastair Cook's side posted a competitive total of 300-8, and the early wickets of David Warner and Aaron Finch put them in control.
They built on their good start to their bowling innings to reduce Australia to 244-9, but James Faulkner struck five sixes in a bludgeoning 69 to see Australia break England hearts and record a memorable one-wicket win in the final over to complete the highest ODI run chase ever at The Gabba.
Below, you can read how the action unfolded, courtesy of Sports Mole's live text coverage.
Good morning, all! I admire your faith. Staying up through the night has become harder and harder throughout this England tour considering results and performances, but I have a feeling today is going to be the day England get one over on Australia. Naive optimism, perhaps?
TOSS: England have won the toss and elected to bat first on a sweltering day in Brisbane. They remain unchanged, while Australia make two alterations, bringing in Johnson and Shaun Marsh for Shane Watson and Xavier Doherty. Full teams coming up...
ENGLAND: Cook (c), Bell, Root, Ballance, Morgan, Bopara, Buttler, Stokes, Bresnan, Jordan, Rankin
AUSTRALIA: Finch, Warner, Marsh, Clarke (c), Bailey, Maxwell, Haddin, Faulkner, Johnson, Coulter-Nile, McKay
England continue their policy of not playing a specialist spin bowler. Their slow bowling option comes in the form of Joe Root, who had been tipped to be dropped in favour of Michael Carberry, but he retains his place, probably as a result of his part-time off breaks.
The balance of Cook's team still seems batsmen heavy, with only four frontline bowlers in the XI. That puts some pressure on England's inexperienced seam attack, but Chris Jordan revelled in the spotlight in Melbourne, impressing on only his second international outing.
This time Australia join England in not picking a recognised spinner. Doherty's omission, though, allows Johnson to come back into the side at the same ground where he ripped apart the tourists two months ago, when hope and expectation was so much higher!
The pitch looks like a belter. A good toss for England to win, but Michael Clarke has no qualms about bowling first as he feels the track will again offer pace which Johnson and company can exploit. His very deep battling lineup will also be well suited to chasing.
The question is, how much will they be chasing? Cook's side need to be more positive than in previous ODIs, particularly considering the form and depth of Australia's batting lineup, and anything less than 300 is probably a sub-par total in these conditions.
That positivity has to come from the top of the order. England's tactic of keeping wickets in hand has been fairly effective on home soil, but a good total at Lord's isn't necessarily a good total at The Gabba. With Jos Buttler down to come in at eight, and the in-form man from the Test series, Ben Stokes, one above him, they can afford to take some calculated risks.
The start of the action is imminent in Brisbane. Just a reminder that Watson's absence is due to him being rested for the next three ODIs. England will hope that the series is still alive when he returns to the Australia fold. Stuart Broad, likewise, is rested for the tourists.
Here we go then. Cook takes guard while Bell loosens up at the other end. Clint McKay has the ball in his hand. Play!
Cook chops a single down to third man to get off the mark first ball. McKay then throws down two wides, one on each side of the stumps in between a loose Bell drive through point for a couple. A fairly sloppy start from Australia's Mr reliable, who does finish with three dots, though.
A loud cheer greets the announcement of Johnson's name over the sound system, but I don't think Cook will be so pleased to see him. He gets in behind the first ball in solid defence, before Johnson sprays a wide out towards first slip. He finds his radar again next ball with a beauty that leaves Cook late. Three slips are in place now but Cook sees out the rest of the over, and picks up two with a back-foot push into the off side in the process.
McKay finds his line and length for the first two balls, but the rest of the over is not so accurate. A feint appeal for a catch down the leg side sees him get away with a possible wide, and Bell walks across his stumps to lean on one into the leg side for a single. McKay then forces Cook back two balls in a row, but the second is wayward and England's captain flicks down to fine leg to pinch the strike.
Another absolute jaffa from Johnson goes past Cook's outside edge and, just about, off stump, but he follows that up with a leg-side half volley which Cook flicks to the square-leg boundary - England's first of the afternoon. A vintage late cut brings the Essex batsman another single, and Bell picks up one down to fine leg.
We have a bowling change as McKay lasts only two overs. Nathan Coulter-Nile is into the attack and starts with a couple of short and wide ones. Bell cuts for a single off the opening ball but a similar shot from Cook is straight at point, and England's skipper then chases a wide one which bounces a bit on him and carries high through to Haddin. Coulter-Nile is sending it down at around 87mph, and Cook uses the pace to work one around the corner. Bell cuts to third man to end the over.
Johnson gives Bell some short stuff and there is some interest in a caught behind as Bell leans back and attempts to upper cut. Nothing given, though, and the next ball is fuller and Bell puts his hands through it and launches it over cover for four. He nearly chops on next ball, hanging the bat out and inside edging just past the stumps. Another late cut for one sees England take five from Johnson's third set.
England's opener pair both wipe their brows after running consecutive threes following shots through cover, Cook's more elegant and Bell's a chip over the infield which plugged. His next shot is all about timing though as a clip goes past mid-on's right hand and away to the fence. Lovely shot. An edge through the second slip area which is vacant for Coulter-Nile yields two more. 12 off the over, and England are going along nicely here.
Johnson is off after a three-over burst that wasn't particularly sharp. A change of ends for McKay brings him no more luck, though. Cook sends Maxwell on a long chase in picking up three through mid wicket, and Bell brings out the late cut again to immediately hand his partner back the strike. McKay ends with a real, horrible long hop which Cook pulls fine for four. The Aussie bowler grunts in disgust.
Better from Coulter-Nile. Bell continues to play positively, only to pull off the front foot into his pad. He doesn't get much of the lofted drive that follows next, but just enough for it to land over mid-off for a single. Coulter-Nile dots Cook up for the rest of the over and beats the bat with a full one that nibbled away a touch.
Bell resists chasing a real wide one from McKay which sees the umpire stretch his arms. He does throw his hands through another juicy wide offering next ball, though and picks up four for his reward. Bell again goes over the top, but gets more height than distance as Bailey runs after it, while never threatening to take the catch. That's the end of the first power play. Cook 20. Bell 27.
Another bowling change as Clarke introduces fourth seamer Faulkner. Cook works into the leg side for one before the Aussie bowler reaps the benefit of having extra protection on the boundary when Bell cuts through point, but is restricted to one by Maxwell. Australia's gun fielder limits Cook to a single too when a flick from outside off stump goes out to mid-wicket. Bell again ends the over by dabbing safely to third man and pinching the strike.
WICKET! COOK c & b MAXWELL 22 [30]
Cook throws away a promising start by driving in the air back to Australia's part-time spinner Maxwell, who takes a good low catch to his right. Another failure for England's skipper, but an important wicket for Clarke's men as the tourists had made a good start.
Joe Root is the new man in, and a man in desperate need of some confidence-boosting runs. Maxwell is around the wicket, and the Yorkshireman squeezes a yorker out behind square on the leg side for a couple. Three dots finish the 11th over.
After the fall of wicket, Johnson is immediately recalled into the attack to have a go at Root, who is put on strike for the second ball courtesy of Bell's single to square leg. As he was during the Ashes, Root is loose outside of off stump and he nearly loops a slower ball to the fielders in the off-side ring.
WICKET! ROOT lbw JOHNSON 2 [8]
England's out-of-sorts number three is beaten for pace as Johnson brings one back into him and strikes him on the thigh pad. After consultation with Bell, Root opts to review, but he was low in his stance and back in his crease when he was hit, and hawkeye indicates that the ball was clipping the bails. Umpire Dharmesena's original call stands. Johnson continues to have Root's number.
Johnson does not instantly adjust his line for the left-handed Ballance, who is England's new man. The tourists pick up a wide down the leg side, and the 12th over finishes with a dot as Ballance drops his hands under a shortish delivery.
With Maxwell bowling around the wicket to the right-handed Bell, there are singles aplenty on offer on the leg side and England's most senior remaining player takes a couple in between Ballance getting off the mark by hurrying through for one after a push into the off side.
An interesting move from Clarke, who brings himself on and nearly picks up a wicket first ball as Bell again dangles the bat out and nearly chops on. Balance calls him through for a single to short fine leg and England continue to rotate the strike, with long-on and long-off both pushed back. Some good running yields two for Bell, who uses his feet to come down and drive through cover point from the final ball before drinks. Bell 37, Ballance 3.
Five singles are taken from Maxwell's third over. He is slightly off line to Bell, who is happy to work the ball into the leg side for singles. Ballance is looking to open up his shoulders and hit with the spin through the off side. He connects well with a drive but a diving stop from Bailey restricts him to one.
Clarke races through an over, dotting Ballance up for the first five balls and England's new boy clips around the corner for a single to ensure that we don't have our first maiden of the innings. You sense that Clarke is trying to sneak some overs from his part timers in while England are on the back foot.
WICKET! BALLANCE st HADDIN b MAXWELL 9 [18]
Well his part timers are doing a fine job at present as Maxwell picks up his second wicket! Clarke's tight last over contributes to Ballance's dismissal too, as the Zimbabwean-born batsman looked to advance down the track and launch the ball over mid-off, who was inside the ring. He misses and despite Haddin taking some time to gather the ball before whipping off the bails, Ballance had come too far down to get back in time. England's promising start is beginning to go to waste.
England's best one-day player over the past few years, Eoin Morgan, comes to the crease and steers a single to long-off second ball. Bell works one off his pads to end another productive Aussie over.
Morgan dances down and launches Clarke straight to Maxwell in the deep and the catch is taken! What is he doing? Is your initial question, playing a shot like that after England have lost a cluster of wickets. But Morgan is a far wiser man than me. As soon as Maxwell clings on, the Irishman calmly points out to umpire Dharmesena that Australia had five fielders outside of the circle, one more than they are allowed. They check upstairs and that proves to be the case. A no-ball and a single is given. Morgan definitely pre-meditated that having seen Clarke's mistake, which has made the Aussie captain look pretty daft it must be said!
Morgan and Bell each pick up singles to square leg, while a dot ends the over. This has to be the partnership which gets England back on track here.
England take it in turns to collect singles and play back dots as they accumulate three from the first five ball's of Maxwell's fifth over. The white-ball specialist then drags one down and Bell rocks back before pulling in-front of square for two.
Clarke keeps himself on for a fourth, and what I imagine, will be a last over in this spell. Morgan has wasted no time in settling and he takes singles from the two balls he faces, which were separated by Bell driving to long off for one. The Warwickshire man finishes the over by waiting in his crease and cutting for a couple through point.
FIFTY! Bell goes to the 28th half century of his ODI career with a push into the off side, which was one of five singles in Maxwell's latest over. Boundaries have been in short supply of late but these two have done a good job of rotating the strike, and it's a double milestone as England reach three figures after 22 overs.
As I predicted, Clarke takes himself off and it is McKay, who was poor in his first spell, who is back into the attack. Morgan works off his pads for one and Bell tries to do the same, only to get an aerial leading edge which had the cover fielder interested for a minute but ultimately brings about the same result. Morgan tries to tick the scoreboard over again but is sent back by Bell, and Clarke throws at the stumps and narrowly misses as the Irishman dives back into his ground. They do scamper through for one next ball, though, and Bell picks up three more over the next two balls to end the over.
Maxwell's figures are looking good now - 7-0-28-2. England are again guilty of letting an Australian spinner bowl at them without putting him under any pressure with attacking stroke play, as they did with Nathan Lyon throughout the Test series. Four off the over, all singles. Bell 55, Morgan 14.
The first two balls are defended on the back foot by Morgan, who moves to 15 with a drive to deep extra cover. England collect a welcome boundary, their first in 15 overs, as Bell top edges a McKay slower ball over the top of Haddin and a couple of bounces into the fence. A single from Bell takes the tourists to 116-3 at the halfway stage.
It appears as though Maxwell is going to bowl straight through here. Bell eases to long-on to put Morgan on strike, and he is dotted up for three balls before stroking a ball fired into his pads straight down the ground for a single. Bell's wagon wheel against Maxwell will show plenty of ones through square leg and he takes another here to end the over. Another tight one from Maxwell.
Bell says over to you Morgan with a nudge into the leg side, and his partner responds by hitting the first maximum of the day, walking down the wicket at McKay and then stroking smoothly over the rope in the direction of mid-on. Fantastic shot. He then chops the ball out to point and runs through for Bell to play out the remainder of the over.
I stand corrected. Maxwell is out of the attack, with Clarke perhaps opting not to push his luck, sensing that Morgan might fancy his chances in taking on Australia's part-time spinner in his final couple of overs. Faulkner is back on and keeps the score down, offering England three singles only, and, in the process, nearly running Bell out while tipping a Morgan straight drive back towards the stumps.
The Aussies have left-arm seam from both ends now as Clarke calls upon Johnson to have a go at Morgan, who cuts in-front of square to the man on the boundary off the second ball of the over. Johnson digs in a good short one at Bell, who thinks about uppercutting before pulling the bat away. The Ashes man of the series feels that he's unlucky to be called wide for a slower ball which went right over the umpire's guideline. A back-foot defensive shot ends the over.
WICKET! BELL run out [CLARKE] 68 [84]
Bell survives a scare earlier in the Faulkner over when he cuts aerially through Warner to the point fence. The ball before, Australia's pocket-rocket opener nearly ran out Morgan, and England proved to take one chance too many between the wickets moments later. Bell drops the ball into the leg side and sets off, but is rightly sent back by his partner. Clarke picks up cleanly and throws the stumps down. The umpire goes upstairs but Bell is out by a few yards. He played nicely, but there was never a run there.
The new man is Ravi Bopara, but he is not on strike as the run out came on the final ball of Faulkner's over. Bell back in the pavilion means that Morgan has to play more restricted now and he sees out five dot balls, missing out on a short, wide one from an otherwise accurate Johnson. A single around the corner keeps this innings maiden-less.
It is another short spell from Faulkner as Clarke surprisingly reverts to McKay, his most expensive bowler today. He drags his first ball back down the leg side and Morgan tickles him fine for four. Three dots follow before Morgan picks up a single to long-off, and Bopara punches a straight drive to the mid-on boundary first ball. That's the shot of the day so far. There are not many better ways to get off the mark than that. Beautiful timing.
Morgan takes on the Johnson short ball and his hook comes off the splice and lands in safe ground. That brings him two, and a drive to long-off another. Australia's left-arm paceman is lucky to get away with a wide down the leg side to Bopara, but is called up for his inaccuracy with a delivery sprayed to Haddin's right. England's all rounder digs out a full ball into the covers and takes one to end the over.
The McKay experiment was expensive, and short lived. Faulkner is back on and that perhaps suggests that Clarke is anticipating the batting powerplay. Bopara threatens to pull the first ball, only to opt out of the shot last minute and just drop the ball into the leg side for a single. England pick up two more to go to the second drinks break at 157-4 - the exact same score they were at this stage at the MCG. Morgan 39, Bopara 7.
Coulter-Nile is thrown the ball after the break, and Clarke may be looking for a couple of cheap overs here before we get to the latter stages of the innings. Bopara clips a couple behind square leg, but his timing has alluded him a little since his superb straight drive first ball. He squeezes singles through the off-side ring either side of Morgan taking one with a drop and run.
The batting powerplay is called and it gets off to a fairly lucrative start as England take eight from Faulkner's set. Bopara shovels a long hop around the corner for four first up, and the scoreboard is ticked over with three singles before a yorker prevents Morgan from scoring. Another block into the covers takes England to 170.
Clarke sticks with Coulter-Nile, and eight comes from the over again. It was a good first four balls from the 26-year-old seamer as he foiled Morgan's attempts to experiment, but Bopara caught hold of a length delivery beautifully to smash it over long on for six. A miscued pull brings him one more.
WICKET! BOPARA ct BAILEY b FAULKNER 24 [19]
WICKET! Just as Bopara was looking good he's back in the hutch and it's a tame end to what was a nice cameo. He tries to turn a length ball from Faulkner into the leg side, but is just a little early on it and a leading edge goes straight into the hands of Bailey at short mid-wicket. Simple catch.
WICKET! Jos Buttler is England's new man and as much as Bopara's dismissal is a blow, this is the perfect time for the wicket-keeper to come to the crease as it gives him enough time to get his eye in before cutting loose. It's the settled man Morgan whose playing the shots at the moment, though and after being given the strike by a Buttler single, he backs away and carves Faulkner over point for four.
WICKET! A high Coulter-Nile bouncer is called a wide, but he makes amends by conceding just one from his next four deliveries. Morgan steers to third man for a single to move onto 49 and Buttler then does well to keep out one that shoots low by turning it into mid-wicket for a couple.
WICKET! FIFTY! The powerplay ends with another eight-run over, from which Morgan takes two off the first ball with a well-placed chip into the off side. After he gets down the other end, Buttler does the same over mid-wicket and good running from the England pair yields two more. A punch to long-on gives Buttler the strike for the next over and his first look at Mitchell Johnson this winter.
WICKET! He turns a back of a length ball off his hip to get down the other end and Johnson gets away with a rather obvious leg-side wide before being penalised for a bouncer which was high of Morgan's helmet. The Irishman pushes for two through cover and then rushes through for a leg bye. A single into mid-wicket from Buttler ends the over. Morgan 54, Buttler 10.
WICKET! McKay is again brought back into the attack and once more proves to be easy pickings for the England batsmen. Buttler delicately clips for a couple to the square leg boundary three times during the over. Excellent placement from the wicket-keeper, who also tries the brute force tactic by backing away and lofting the ball over cover for three. Each batsman pick up singles, also, as 10 comes from the over. McKay has now gone for 61 in nine. We probably won't see him again today.
WICKET! Brilliant over from England as Morgan and Buttler begin to go through the gears. The latter is quick on the front-foot pull to smash Johnson to the mid-wicket fence, but Morgan goes one better, lifting him over the rope with an outrageous extra-cover drive. That won't have happened to Mitch very often! Singles come off the other four balls, and these two now looked very well set with seven overs remaining.
These two take their 36-ball partnership beyond 50 as Morgan chips over mid-wicket for a couple. A strong flick of the wrists from the vice-captain then sends Faulkner into the stands over mid-on. Fantastic timing from Morgan after he engineers the shot himself with a couple of strides down the pitch. Faulkner makes it easy for him next ball with a full toss that is clipped behind square for another boundary. The Aussie gets his yorker right next ball, though, for a rare dot in recent overs. A big heave from Morgan doesn't come off on the final ball, but two more runs are still added to the score. Morgan 77, Buttler 26.
DROP! Clarke again turns to Coulter-Nile, who stops the flow of boundaries initially with some good death bowling, conceding two runs off the first four balls. He then bangs one in short and rushes Buttler into a hook shot which flies straight upwards. There's some confusion between the bowler and extra cover, but Coulter-Nile calls for it. It's a steepler and although he gets right underneath the ball, it bounces out of his hands! To make matters worse, Morgan is at the other end now and he clears his front leg to launch the last ball of the over for six over long-off.
Incredible stuff from Morgan, who smashes consecutive sixes to move to within one hit of his hundred. The first is a repeat of the flick off his pads from a Faulkner full toss, but the second is an outstanding hit over cow corner which goes several rows back. He struck that so cleanly. His last 47 runs have come off 20 deliveries! Buttler gets in on the act too, somehow getting underneath a very full ball and chipping it over extra cover for four. Morgan 97, Buttler 33.
HUNDRED! What an innings from Eoin Morgan, and what a way to go to your century! He picks up a single off the first ball of Coulter-Nile's over and then drives straight to mid-off when Buttler puts him back on strike, but he goes beyond 100 next ball when he leans back to get inside a bouncer and guide the ball over Brad Haddin's head to the boundary. Brilliant shot, brilliant knock from the Irishman, who goes to three figures for the sixth time at in one-day international level. He's got three overs left to add to his score...
Some fantastic work on the long-on boundary from Marsh saves Australia four runs, but there is some dispute as to whether Buttler's lofted drive should have been awarded six as Marsh was outside of the boundary ropes when he leaped to palm it back into play. More good fielding, this time within the laws of the game, from Maxwell prevents the ball going to the mid-wicket fence as Buttler collects two, and he adds four more with a fortunate top edge over the wicket-keeper. Three more into the leg side over two balls for the new Lancashire signing takes him to 45 and England are closing in on 300. That's Johnson's 10 overs finished too.
WICKET! BUTTLER ct CLARKE by COULTER-NILE 49 [36]
WICKET! Coulter-Nile has bowled well to Buttler, following his movement at the crease and he does so again here as England's finisher skies a heave high into the sky. Clarke has a lot of ground to make up, but does so before diving low to cling on to an excellent catch inches above the ground.
WICKET! STOKES ct MAXWELL b COULTER-NILE 0 [1]
The batsmen crossed while Buttler's shot was in the air, but as soon as Morgan puts Ben Stokes on strike with a single, the all-rounder finds the man in the deep on the leg-side boundary. Not a lot you can do about that at this stage, but an excellent 49th over this from Coulter-Nile.
MORGAN ct CLARKE b FAULKNER 106 [99]
A superb knock comes to an end from Morgan, who played patiently for his first 50 before quickly picking up the pace and inspiring England to 100 off their last 10 overs. He tries to hit his seventh maximum of the afternoon, but does not connect cleanly, and Clarke takes a simple catch on the edge of the ring before joining in the applause of the Gabba crowd, who salute a truly exceptional one-day innings.
Chris Jordan is the new man in and his inexperience shows as he wafts aimlessly at three balls in a row from Faulkner, who has turned to the short-ball ploy for the final few deliveries in this innings. Jordan gets hold of a pull at the fourth attempt and despite some lazy running from Tim Bresnan, England get through for two to finish on 296-8. Bresnan 1*, Jordan 2*.
England will be pretty pleased with that. Morgan's hundred was outstanding and timely considering that the tourists had lost wickets in quick succession before his arrival at the crease. Australia will require 297, about par on this track I reckon, to take a 2-0 lead in this five-match series when they begin their run chase in around 20 minutes time. Rejoin me then!
UPDATE: Correction - Australia will now be chasing 301 to win. Marsh's efforts on the boundary were seemed to be outside of the laws of the game upon review and four more runs have been added to Buttler's score and the overall tally. That might make the difference in the end, you never know!
Australia's opening pair David Warner and Aaron Finch are both now at the crease, and both in form, as we prepare to watch their chasing effort. Rankin to Warner. Play!
Rankin is a bit short to start and Warner thrashes him through the off side for two, and then pulls to square leg for a long three. The length is better to Finch and the centurion from the first ODI sets himself to play on the back foot and blocks out two dots.
WICKET! FINCH ct BALLANCE b JORDAN 0 [3]
Cricket's a funny old game! Ballance, the man who dropped a goober off Jordan when Finch was on eight at the MCG, has taken a screamer here to dismiss the Australian opener off the same bowler. He seems to react very late at mid-off to Finch's lofted drive and then sticks out a nonchalant hand, upwards to his right, in hope, and it sticks. His celebration is as casual as his catching, but he and England must know how important a wicket that is. Finch gone for a duck!
Jordan sends down a floaty half volley to Marsh, which he strokes through the covers for three. The Aussie number three is struggling with a tight hamstring but comfortably makes his ground.
England are again too full early doors to Marsh and he smashes Rankin to the extra-cover fence. The Warwickshire seamer is fighting to find his areas here, as he has done throughout the tour, and concedes a wide in the process of giving away five off the over.
Warner thumps Jordan down the ground with aplomb and after he takes a single into the offside, Marsh is dotted up with the final four balls of the fourth over. A good response from England's Sussex seamer, who is just finding a little bit of movement away from the left handers.
A clip off his hip from Warner brings about three runs and hands the strike to Marsh, who crashes some full, wide filth from Rankin to to the off-side boundary. He pushes one into the covers and Warner then dispatches a length ball over Rankin's head, two bounces into the fence. England only have four frontline bowlers today and already one of them seems to have been targeted.
WICKET! WARNER ct & b JORDAN 18 [14]
This is getting alarmingly ironic now, but before I explain why, let me just say: what an incredible reflex catch from Chris Jordan! Warner goes full pelt at a length ball and gets most of it, but Jordan, who dropped an almost identical chance in the MCG, shows superb reactions to move towards the ball and clutch it in his fingertips! This was his strongest right hand, and not his left as it was on Sunday, and that might have made the difference. Firstly Ballance, and now Jordan, taking pretty much replica catches from the ones that they dropped in Melbourne. Bizarre.
Clarke gets in behind the final ball of Jordan's third over and is off the mark in Rankin's next set with a dab to third man, which came after Marsh had worked a single off his pads into the leg side. Two off the over, by far Rankin's cheapest.
Despite losing two early wickets, Australia remain positive and desperate to put away anything loose. Clarke is quickly into his stride, and quickly onto anything short as he smashes Jordan to the mid-wicket fence. He helps another back-of-a-length ball around the corner for two more, and finishes off a productive eighth over for the hosts by cutting through point for another boundary.
Rankin is pulled from the bowling attack and replaced by Bresnan, who starts off with a few loose deliveries, the last of which is pulled forcefully by Marsh to the mid-wicket boundary. He then steals the strike by leaning on the ball and guiding it to third man for a single.
It's a double change for England as Stokes comes on at the expense of double wicket-taker Jordan. He bowls four good balls in the middle of the over, but starts and ends it by conceding boundaries. Marsh flicks a leg-stump half volley square to the rope, and is again quick on the bouncer to pull it to a similar destination. England's bowlers aren't fast enough to bowl that length on this pitch.
Bresnan finds his areas in his second over, and the 11th of the Australia innings. Clarke and Marsh are still trying to rotate the strike, though, and do so successfully for two singles, but nearly cause a run out as they go for a third. Clarke sets off after dropping into the covers, where Bell, who was ran out by the Aussie skipper earlier today, picks up and nearly exacts some measure of revenge as his throw at the stumps comes within inches of sending Marsh back to the pavilion.
Australia continue to keep the scoreboard ticking along as Clarke and Marsh take Stokes for three singles between them, without risking the suspect running between the wickets they we saw in the last over. Marsh 29, Clarke 15.
Clarke clips Bresnan off his hips for a couple behind square before ducking an 85mph bouncer. That was an effort ball. Australia's captain has bags of time to turn a ball from outside off stump to fine leg for a single, and Marsh then, again, guides down to third man for one to complete the over.
WICKET! CLARKE ct BALLANCE b ROOT 17 [20]
Spin proved effective for Australia at this time in the England innings, and it has worked for the tourists as well! Root, their only genuine slow-bowling option, comes into the attack and, after conceding three runs in his first four balls, picks up the crucial wicket of Clarke. The Aussie skipper loves to use his feet to the spinners, but here he doesn't quite get balanced after dancing down to Root and ends up slicing a drive into the hands of Ballance at cover point. England are in a great position here.
Australia's three key men are back in the hutch, but Bailey has been one of the world's most consistent players in this format over the last 18 months and he gets going with a single off Root.
REVIEW! Bailey rocks back and cuts for three through point to bring Marsh on strike. He plays round his front pad and Bresnan goes up for lbw. The umpire is not interested, but Cook is, and he calls for the review after being persuaded by his bowler. It's all solved rather quickly, though, with hawkeye showing that the ball pitched comfortably outside leg stump. Singles for each Marsh and Bailey follow.
Drinks are taken and that will allow Bailey to seek medical attention to the back problem that seems to be causing him some discomfort out there. However, it didn't stop him taking three off the over, including a single courtesy of the first paddle sweep I've seen this afternoon. Marsh also collected one to the man in the deep on the offside as Australia break for refreshments on 80-3. Marsh 36, Bailey 8.
Stokes's return to the attack in place of Bresnan is expensive as he is taken for nine from the 17th over. Marsh's cut, which pierced the fielders at point and cover and flew to the fence, was the pick of the shots. Bailey edges to third man off the final ball and gingerly limps to the other end to face Root.
Good, tight over from Root as he concedes just a quick single to Marsh, as well as a leg bye from his third over. Considering the role that spin played in Australia's bowling effort and Rankin and Stokes's troubles so far today, he is likely to get through his full allocation.
FIFTY! Marsh smashes the leather off the ball with an outstanding cover drive that flies to the boundary. A couple off his pads and a single down to his productive third man area bring up a very good half century, his ninth in ODI cricket. Three more, including a wide, come off the remainder of the Stokes over and he has now gone for 29 runs in his four overs.
Australia are 14 ahead of England at the 20-over stage and now have Marsh and Bailey going along nicely, albeit walking wounded. They take four singles from Root's over and Bailey is beginning to use his feet to the part timer. Australia won't allow Root to bowl at them as England did with Maxwell.
Cook gambles for a wicket with the recall of Rankin, but his radar is a bit all over the place. Two shortish balls angled into Bailey's ribs are helped around the corner for twos, comfortably ran even with the batsman's dodgy back. An even shorter one is pulled for a single and Marsh drops and runs to put Bailey back on strike immediately. Bailey again turns it into the leg side to complete the over.
WICKET! MARSH b ROOT 55 [69]
Root strikes again, sneaking one through Marsh as he went back to cut and bowling him off stump. His more than decent knock comes to an end and England take control of this game with that wicket. Root may be struggling with the bat, but he is making an important contribution with the ball today!
WICKET! BAILEY lbw RANKIN 24 [28]
Two quick wickets for England and it is Rankin who strikes with a full ball which drifted back into Bailey slightly and struck him on the pad plumb in front. A stone dead lbw and Alastair Cook's side are now bossing this game. There's been a few times that has been said this winter, though, and then Brad Haddin's arrival at the crease has quickly changed things. The wicket-keeper is next in.
Maxwell loops the ball into the leg side, but it lands safely and Australia come through for a single. Root dots Haddin up for three balls before the experienced glovesman pushes into the gap at mid wicket for a single. Maxwell follows suit as the hosts take three off the over.
Rankin fires a leg-side wide down first up, but he is clearly buoyed by his wicket and is now clocking 88mph and upwards. Maxwell prods the ball to mid-on for a single, and Haddin then plays and misses at two of four balls as the remainder of the over costs England nothing. The run rate is now higher than seven an over for the first time as we reach the halfway stage of Australia's innings.
Maxwell demonstrates his million-dollar Twenty20 credentials with a reverse sweep off Root, which dropped safely over the ring and then kicked on to the boundary. More traditional drives down the ground had yielded singles for both him and Haddin earlier in the over.
Cook recalls Jordan and backs him by inserting a slip, but, despite not going for a boundary in the over, the Sussex all-rounder is a bit loose and allows Maxwell some width to punch for two through the offside, having picked up a couple the ball before with a pull on the swivel. A leg bye finishes the over, seven off it in total.
More good stuff from Root, who has only gone for 33 in his eight overs and picked up two crucial wickets. Haddin's sweep goes just to the left of the diving Cook at backward square leg and brings him a couple. He then tucks the ball behind square for a single to take the strike.
A couple of ugly heaves from Haddin yield a two and a single into the leg side respectively, but he did not connect cleanly with either strike. In between, a more delicate glance into the leg side brings about a well-run two and Maxwell pulls Jordan to fine leg to complete the 29th over.
Sensational stuff from Maxwell, who reverse sweeps Root for three consecutive fours. The first of which was over the top of the ring fielders, and the second underneath the diving player who was originally posted at backward point. That area is reinforced before Root continues, but the Yorkshireman sends down a full toss and Maxwell plays the same shot, only later and finer, and to the same result. Root's figures have been tainted somewhat by that 13-run over.
An inswinger from Jordan drifts just inside Maxwell and down the leg side for a wide. There is more big movement as Maxwell makes a real mess of trying to guide the ball down to third man and gets struck on the thigh pad. Two runs are given off the bat, which annoys Jordan and he is angered further when Maxwell changes tact from his experimental approach against Root and reverts to the power game, taking two steps down the track and then clubbing the ball through extra cover for four.
Maxwell has hit Root out of the attack. Bopara is on for the first time and starts poorly, with two wides in his first three balls. A misfield from Ian Bell at short extra cover gifts Haddin one and a wide long hop is clinically dispatched to the fence, with good placement from Maxwell, who is on 42. Haddin 12.
Australia are being proactive in this run chase and have taken the batting powerplay. Cook turns back to his most experienced bowler, Bresnan, who is bowling with all of his covering men on the leg side. That isn't enough to stop Maxwell's paddle sweep off a low full toss going for four. The all-rounder hooks for three more as Haddin runs hard before adding two to his own total with a pull to mid-wicket.
Bopara won't bowl in the powerplay, so Jordan takes the ball again with the required run rate now less than 6.5 an over. Maxwell rushes through for a leg bye and Haddin, having nudged his way to 17, starts letting loose. He backs away and thumps Jordan over cover point to the boundary. There is no man out on the off side and so Jordan's line is too wide and he allows Haddin to give himself room again and carve over extra for another four. He works a single behind square to pinch the strike. Now both of Australia's batsmen are seemingly in full swing.
WICKET! HADDIN ct COOK b BRESNAN 26 [35]
WICKET! Massive wicket for England as Haddin, their nemesis all winter, pays the price for backing away once too often. Bresnan digs one in and it is too short for Haddin to swing his hands through it as he has been doing. He skies the ball high in the air, Cook retreats and takes a decent catch at mid-off.
FIFTY! Surprisingly, it is Nathan Coulter-Nile who has been promoted up the order to help make use of this powerplay. It is Maxwell on strike, though, and he pushes into the covers to bring up his sixth ODI half century, which has come off 37 balls. Coulter-Nile takes a big swing and the ball cannons off his thigh pad, allowing Maxwell to get back to the right end courtesy of a leg bye. His remarkable reverse-sweeping continues, with Bresnan the latest victim as he ball flies off the bat for four.
WICKET! MAXWELL ct BOPARA b BRESNAN 54 [39]
Another huge wicket and probably the decisive one in this contest for England as Maxwell follows Haddin back to the pavilion in the same Bresnan over. He pulls a back-of-a-length ball straight to Bopara at short mid-wicket. England now have two batsmen at the crease and only Australia's bottom four in the way of them securing a first victory of this winter tour down under!
New man Faulkner blocks out to ensure that he's not Bresnan's third scalp of the over. A wide, a leg bye, and a single each for the two Australian batsmen take them to 210-7. They require 91 runs at 6.5 an over.
A new bat is brought out for Coulter-Nile after he slices a couple out to deep mid-wicket, and I assume it has very big edges as his next swing flies over square leg for a hooked six. Another top edge to third man brings him two more.
The powerplay is over and thus Bopara is back into the attack. With Rankin off the field nursing hamstring trouble, it is likely that the all-rounder is going to be needed to bowl another four or five overs, if it goes that far. His second of the innings goes for just three and nearly yields a run out as Coulter-Nile dives in after being called through late by Faulkner.
Another fairly tight set from England as Stokes costs just four on his returning over. He slips a wide down the leg side, but concedes nothing more than singles off the bat. There seems to be another injury concern for England, with Morgan having aggravated a calf muscle while trying to run out Faulkner.
Bopara is hitting his spots back of a length and the Australian lower order are finding it difficult to find the boundary. Some good running gets them four singles off the over and we now head into the last 10 with the hosts needing 68 to win in Brisbane.
WICKET! COULTER-NILE lbw STOKES 16 [23]
England move a wicket closer to victory as Stokes, who has been in yorker mode, throws a full one down towards Coulter-Nile, who was beaten for pace and a bit of inswing and trapped plumb in front. He checks with Faulkner, who sensibly tells him not to waste a review he may need in the coming overs.
Faulkner pushes to long-on for a single off the second ball of the 42nd over and Johnson blocks out the remaining four balls. Don't write Australia off yet, these two both have international centuries to their names. They need 65 runs off 48 balls.
There is another wide from Stokes, but he finds the blockhole with his yorkers to restrict Australia to one off the next two balls. Johnson clips off his pads and Faulkner pushes into the covers, each for singles, to end the over. Australia need 61 off 42.
JOHNSON ct BUTTLER b BOPARA 1 [10]
Bopara finds the finest of edges off Johnson's bat and Buttler takes the simple catch behind to reduce Australia to nine down. That could just about be that. McKay is the home side's last man. Faulkner may start swinging as he did when this pair saw them over the line against India in Mohali, (i.e. Faulkner while McKay dead batted everything back).
A very obvious change of approach here from Faulkner as he launches Stokes for consecutive sixes. The first cleared the rope at long-on and the second cleared the square-leg boundary, and then most of the first tier of the Gabba stand. What a massive hit! They take a single before McKay blocks three balls, and Australia turn down one from the final ball to keep Faulkner on strike. They need 44 from 30.
Back into the attack comes Bresnan and Faulkner does take a single off the first ball of the over. McKay wastes two balls, but then gets away from the danger end by chipping one into the leg side. A waist-high full toss is, on review, not given a no ball and therefore Faulkner only gets one for directing it down to fine leg. Australia need 40 off 23.
Stokes charges in and Faulkner pushes him down the ground for a single. McKay immediately gets the big hitter back on strike. Faulkner bottom edges towards third man where substitute fielder Chris Woakes is on hand to save four. Stokes reverts to length and Faulkner whips him away on the leg side. Joe Root takes an absolutely incredible one-handed grab, diving to snaffle the ball over his shoulder, but he then slides into the boundary rope and six is given. A single is squeezed behind square on the off side to keep Faulkner on strike. 30 needed from 18. This is doable if Faulkner gets enough of the strike.
Australia opt not to run singles on the first two balls, but Faulkner isn't going Gung-ho here. He clips into the leg side twice and on both occasions rushes McKay through for twos. He drops a back-of-a-length ball into square leg and leaves his number-11 partner one ball to survive, which he does by ducking a Bresnan bouncer. 25 needed off 12 balls. This is the over that Faulkner has to go for it.
Cook keeps faith with Stokes. Faulkner looks for cow corner again but swings and misses. It bounces off the pad and goes nowhere. A great yorker from Stokes brings about another dot. The Durham lad showed in the Ashes that he has some bottle and he'll need to show that here too.
FIFTY! Faulkner goes to a bludgeoning half century with a big six over mid-wicket, and the next ball from Stokes is right in the slot again and this one goes even further! It's another massive maximum from the Australian all-rounder.
Another Stokes ball is perfectly in Faulkner's arch but the Tasmanian loses his shape as he swings and misses. Stokes finds his yorker again, but Faulkner will settle for the single down to long-on as it keeps him on strike for the final over, which will be bowled by Bresnan. Australia need 12 to win off 6 balls. Let's have some ball-by-ball updates!
Bresnan fools Faulkner with an off cutter, but the Aussie all-rounder swings hard and gets a big edge which flies over Buttler and to the boundary for four!
Another slower ball and this time Faulkner knows it is coming. He sets himself and slams a front-foot pull to the mid-wicket boundary. Australia are strong favourites now. Four runs needed from four balls and Faulkner has the chance to be the hero!
AUSTRALIA WIN BY ONE WICKET!
England have all four of their boundary riders on the leg side, and so what does Faulkner do? He backs away and smashes Bresnan through the off-side ring and to the cover boundary to win Australia an ODI classic and put complete a superb innings. He finishes 69 not out. McKay ends on 2 not out as Australia record the biggest ODI run chase ever at The Gabba.
From 244-9 to a truly memorable one-wicket Australian victory. This result will break England hearts. They were so close to a first success of this miserable tour down under, but Faulkner took that away from them with some stunning hitting at the end. Australia now lead the series 2-0 with three matches to play.
We now head to Sydney for the next ODI on Sunday, and if it is anything close to being as entertaining and closely-contested as this match, the SCG crowd are in for a real treat. The manner of this defeat means that England may find it hard to respond, but there are big positives for them to take from their Brisbane outing, Morgan's magnificent hundred included, and all is not lost just yet.
Thanks for joining Sports Mole for this enthralling encounter. Australia just about keep their foot pressed down on the England throat. Please retune to SM for coverage of the third match of the series in Sydney on Sunday. Until next time...
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
