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The Three Lions are hosting Australia in a three-match T20I series at their home. While the visitors took a 1-0 lead in the series earlier, England bounced back in the game, leveling the series 1-1, courtesy Liam Livingstone’s all-round innings at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Friday, September 13. Earlier in the second T20I, Phil Salt-led England won the toss and invited Australia to bat first.
Led by stand-in captain, Travis Head, the Aussies posted 193 runs on the board at the loss of six wickets in their stipulated 20 overs. Matthew Short and skipper Head departed early, having scored 28 and 31 runs respectively. Thereafter, Jake Fraser-McGurk (50) and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis took charge to help post a decent total on the board. While the England bowlers struggled to get among the wickets with Brydon Carse and Liam Livingstone getting two wickets each, which Sam Curran and Adil Rashid scalped one each.
Liam Livingstone leads England to three-wicket win in second T20I
In pursuit of the 194-run target, Salt, who is leading the Three Lions in absence of Jos Buttler, who is suffering with an injury, gave a good start, scoring 23-ball 39. However, Will Jacks (12) and Jordan Cox (0) could not do much with the bat before Liam Livingstone took charge in the middle. The English all-rounder scored 87 off 47 deliveries, along with Jacob Bethell, who contributed with a 24-ball 44 and stitched a crucial partnership with Livingstone.
With his 50-plus score, Livingstone reached his second T20I half-century in what was his 50th match for the England. During his stay of 47 balls, 31-year-old smashed six fours and five sixes.
Watch Liam Livingstone's innings from second T20I vs Australia:
I feel like I’m starting a new career: Liam Livingstone
The 31-year-old Lancashire cricketer opened up after his match-winning knock which led him to win the Player of the Match award. Speaking after England’s three-wicket win, Livingstone expressed that he’s beginning a “new career”. It is to be noted that Livingstone is struggling with injuries off late and is not part of England’s ODI squad for the upcoming series.
"I feel like a little kid again, I feel like I'm starting a new career to be honest," Livingstone said. "Life with niggles is not very fun. Mentally, more than anything, it feels really nice to be back playing cricket pain-free and I think, if I get back to my best, I feel like I'm an asset to any cricket team I play in,” he added. "I'm back playing cricket with a smile on my face, that's when I play at my best. Fingers crossed it stays that way for a while, he concluded.
