ENG vs AUS 3rd ODI: Harry Brook Century Keeps England Alive in Series Against Australia

Harry Brook struck his maiden one-day international century as England kept the series alive following a 46-run (DLS method) win over Australia in the rain-hit 3rd ODI at the Seat Unique Riverside in Chester-le-Street on Tuesday (September 24).

Chasing 305 to win, stand-in skipper Brook remained unbeaten on 110 off 94 balls as England reached 254/4 in 37.4 overs before heavy rain arrived and no further play was possible in the crucial one-dayer for the hosts in the five-match series, having gone 0-2 down in the first two games.

Brook, who led the side in the absence of Jos Buttler, shared a 156-run stand with Will Jacks, who also played a useful hand of 84 from 82 balls to put England in the driver's seat after early set backs of losing openers Phil Salt (0 off 8 balls) and Ben Duckett (8 off 9 balls) in the third over.

Brook lost partners Jacks and Jamie Smith (7 off 16 balls), but Liam Livingstone (33* off 20 balls) remained at the crease with his skipper when rain washed out any further play. Fortunately for England, they were well ahead of the Duck-Worth Lewis Stern target.

For Australia, Mitchell Star made early in-roads and finished with two for 63 in 8 overs, while all-rounder Cameron Green also chipped in with the other 2 wickets, finishing with figures of 2 for 45 in his 6 overs.

Earlier, put into bat, the visitors, who played without an in-form Travis Head, struggled early, losing Matt Short (14 off 12 balls) and skipper Mitchell Marsh (24 off 38 balls), but fought back through a 84-run stand by Smith (60 off 82 balls) and Cameron Green (42 off 49 balls).

Once Green and Marnus Labuschagne fell in successive overs, Smith shared a small stand with the in-form Alex Carey (77* off 65 balls) before ending his stay in the 35th over.

Carey, the match hero in Leeds, carried his form and shared useful partnerships with Glenn Maxwell (30 off 25 balls) and Aaron Hardie (44 off 26 balls) to take Australia to a challenging total of 304/7 in their allotted 50 overs.

For England, Jofra Archer was the top wicket-taker with 2 scalps, while Brydon Carse, Jacob Bethell, Jacks and Livingstone all claimed a wicket-a-piece. Adil Rashid finished the game without a wicket.

The Ashes rivals will now head to the Home of Cricket - Lord's in London for the fourth ODI on Friday (September 27) before the series concludes with the fifth and final ODI at the Bristol County Cricket Ground on Sunday (September 28).