England’s all-rounder Liam Livingstone turned the final over of the fourth ODI at Lord’s into a spectacle, unleashing a brutal assault on veteran seamer Mitchell Starc. Starc, who had already endured a challenging evening, conceded 52 runs in his first seven overs without a breakthrough. However, the worst was yet to come.
In his last over, Livingstone dismantled him with four towering sixes and a boundary, causing Starc’s figures to balloon to 70 runs from eight overs. England, having set an imposing target of 312 runs in just 39 overs, eventually clinched a commanding 186-run victory, leveling the series at 2-2.
The climax of England’s innings, orchestrated by Livingstone, arguably shifted the momentum decisively. He set the tone of the final over by launching the first ball for a massive six-over long-on, followed by a dot on the next delivery. Undeterred, he flicked the third ball elegantly into the stands.
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By now, Mitchell Starc seemed rattled and delivered a full toss on the fourth ball, which Livingstone dispatched over long-off, bringing up his half-century in style. Starc’s attempt to bowl short on the fifth delivery was met with a powerful pull shot over deep square leg, marking Livingstone’s third consecutive six.
6️⃣▪️6️⃣6️⃣6️⃣4️⃣
Incredible final over hitting from Liam Livingstone 💪💥
🏴 #ENGvAUS 🇦🇺 | @liaml4893 pic.twitter.com/qfEDxOM88N
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 27, 2024
With the last ball, he guided a smart shot to backward point, securing a boundary and capping off a thrilling finish to England’s innings, boosting the team’s morale significantly. Australia’s response was subdued as England’s bowlers maintained a stranglehold, dismissing them comprehensively to seal the win.
Reflecting on the defeat, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh acknowledged that England had outplayed them in every department. He praised Livingstone’s exceptional innings, calling it a “gem,” but lamented the lack of substantial partnerships in their chase.
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Mitchell Marsh admitted that their middle-order collapse under pressure proved costly, as wickets tumbled in quick succession, derailing their pursuit. “Credit to England, they put us under immense pressure and completely outplayed us. In a chase like this, you need a couple of big partnerships. That’s cricket,” Marsh conceded.
