MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 22:58:28| >> :600:1683220:1683220:

Jos Buttler guides England to last-over win

Jos Buttler draw England level in the ODI series against Australia by striking an unbeaten 65 from 48 balls to guide the hosts to victory in Cardiff.

Jos Buttler hit an unbeaten 65 from 48 balls as England levelled the one-day-international series with Australia with a three-wicket victory at Cardiff.

Two of the four matches to date have been rained off, but the weather was clear in Wales where Buttler helped Eoin Morgan's side pass Australia's total of 227 runs in the last over, after Clint McKay's hat-trick had earlier ripped apart England's top order.

The visitors also lost early wickets in their innings, with Aaron Finch falling to Steven Finn on the first legitimate ball of the match, but an excellent knock of 87 from George Bailey helped the Aussies respond well from an ominous position at 57-4.

Boyd Rankin impressed again with 2-31 from his 10 overs, but Bailey shared partnerships of 67 with Adam Voges (30) and 85 with wicketkeeper Matthew Wade (36) as the tourists posted a reasonable score.

McKay dismissed Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Joe Root in the space of three balls to become just the fifth Australian to take a hat-trick in an ODI.

It was Trott's second golden duck of the series, but Michael Carberry struck his first white-ball fifty for England as he and captain Morgan (53) rebuilt the hosts' innings.

When they and Ravi Bopara were dismissed to leave England needing 84 with just four wickets remaining, the pressure was placed on Buttler to complete the run-chase.

With support from Ben Stokes (25), the Somerset glovesman guided his side to a situation from which they needed eight off the final over, and then hit a six and a four to see England home with three balls to spare.

ID:104929: cacheID:104929:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3786:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Kevin Pietersen plays a front-foot drive against Australia in the second ODI at Old Trafford on September 8, 2013
Read Next:
Aussie total too much for England
>