Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
19 | 13 Runs 2 Wkts | ENG: 194/7 | RR: 10.21

  • Adil Rashid1 (1b)
  • Jamie Overton4 (4b)
  • Matthew Short3-0-22-5
  • Sean Abbott4-0-37-2

10.05pm: Well, Cardiff was rocking tonight, as England's young lions (led by a Welshman) levelled the series. The boyos done good. Anyway, Matt's report is in and things are set up nicely for Sunday in Manchester. In between, we've got... T20 Finals Day (plenty of preview content for that here)! Thanks for keeping us company, from Gnasher, Raghav and myself, it's goodbye for now. Ta ra!

9.55pm: Right oh, time for the presentations at Sophia Gardens. Liam Livingstone is Player of the Match for his matchwinning knock (as well as two-fer): "It's been nice. Did say towards the end of the Hundred that I was getting my body back to normal, that's bothered me the last couple of years. Enjoying my cricket. [Batting No.4] I do enjoy the responsibility. You can only play the hand you've been dealt, not easy coming in six or seven. Moving up the order has been nice, gives you more responsibility. Tough couple of years but nice to be out here with a smile on my face. It's something that's hard down the order. [Bethell] Seen it over the last couple of weeks in the Hundred, incredible talent but he has a great head on young shoulders. To be out there batting with him, he's a fearless kid and it was pretty special. [Ovation] Nice reception, big game, wanted to go to Old Trafford 1-1."

Australia captain Travis Head: "Good score, felt we were in the hunt and got close. [Conditions] Yeah, it changed out there, but you know that at the toss. We were pretty close but it was a good innings. [Plans] You go with your gut, will sit down with Ronnie and have a chat. [Fraser-McGurk] Nice for him to get into the series. Didn't get the win but that's okay. [Short] Should have bowled him earlier. We know what he's got to offer, a nice option moving into the next game. [Captaincy] As long as I can keep the ship running for Mitch, unfortunately no win... but keep it rolling."

England's Phil Salt: "Incredible performance, what Livi did was second to none. To see Beth come out and play the way he did, pace his innings and take their best bowler down, really impressed. Knew we'd have to play well, they had a good powerplay. We talked about extending those partnerships after Southampton, nice to do it straight away. [Australia powerplay] We know how good they are, you go back to your plans. Did we have clarity, did we execute? [Bethell] He is a real talent, the way he took down Zampa, not many could do that in their second international game. [Livingstone] He's played a lot of cricket, he's no mug. Started really well, five wickets and 100-plus runs in two games, hopefully he can take that to Old Trafford. [Captaincy and keeping] I'm enjoying it, feel like it's the best place to see the game from. A win tonight keeps the series alive and gives us a good incentive at Old Trafford."

9.50pm: That means the series is level at 1-1, so we'll go to a decider in Manchester on Sunday. Liam Livingstone was the star of the show for England with 87 off 47 balls, his partnership with Jacob Bethell breaking the back of the chase. Both batters departed, as Matthew Short somehow burgled a five-wicket haul at the death; but England had enough in the tank to flop over the line

ShahSafeer: "Performance of highest order from Livingstone, a futuristic move has worked for England, at least for now. And also what these English fans sing together? Have been listening to this since Pakistan's debut T20I"

Tom: "Cause of early death: being an England supporter" Ken: "5 for the part-time offie, 0 for the world-class leggie. T20 in a nut shell"

18.6
1
Short to Rashid, 1 run, tossed up outside off, steered to backward point - and that's that, England win by three wickets despite a bit of a flap with the winning post in sight

Adil Rashid, still one needed

18.5
W
Short to Carse, OUT, or not... Carse goes first ball! An extraordinary shot, on the move and launched almost straight up, safely held at mid-on! Short has a five-for, and England still can't get this done!

BA Carse c David b Short 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Brydon Carse walks out to do the honours

18.4
W
Short to Livingstone, OUT, oh dear, Livingstone walks past one to be bowled! Fired full and flat, 63mph and skidding into off stump as he whips across it and misses... Livingstone walks off with one run needed, but job done for England (surely)

LS Livingstone b Short 87 (70m 47b 6x4 5x6) SR: 185.10

Probably not going to the wire after all

18.3
4
Short to Livingstone, FOUR, speared at the toes and drilled straight! Brings the scores level with a powerful drive down the ground
18.3
1w
Short to Livingstone, 1 wide, fired down the leg side, Inglis appeals for caught behind as Livingstone swings and misses. Mike Burns signals wide
18.2
6
Short to Livingstone, SIX, thar she blows... plopped into the River Taff! Livingstone decides that this needs to get done and walks down the track to smash the offspinner over long-on
18.1
1
Short to Overton, 1 run, round the wicket, lobbed up and boshed down to long-off

This going all the way, 13 needed from 12. Short will bowl another

END OF OVER:
18 | 8 Runs | ENG: 181/5 (13 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 10.05, RRR: 6.50)

  • Liam Livingstone77 (44b)
  • Jamie Overton3 (3b)
  • Sean Abbott4-0-37-2
  • Matthew Short2-0-9-3
17.6
2
Abbott to Livingstone, 2 runs, pitched up and hauled wide of long-on, David has to dive and they scramble two
17.5
1
Abbott to Overton, 1 run, slower delivery, popped back off splice... just wide of Abbott in his follow through! Another single for Overton
17.4
1
Abbott to Livingstone, 1 run, back of a length, crashed on the pull - but again straight to deep midwicket. Short makes no mistake this time
17.3
2
Abbott to Livingstone, 2 runs, flipped off the pads, but dropped in the deep! Short was haring in from midwicket, he seemed to get his hands there... but it slipped through his grasp, to huge cheers from the crowd!
17.2
1
Abbott to Overton, 1 run, length ball, straightens on off, clips the edge. Overton runs one into the covers anyway
17.1
1
Abbott to Livingstone, 1 run, back of a length on off, hammers the pull... straight to deep midwicket for one

Abbott for his fourth

"Idiotic batting," huffs John, "what on earth are they thinking this close to victory."

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs 2 Wkts | ENG: 173/5 (21 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 10.17, RRR: 7.00)

  • Liam Livingstone71 (40b)
  • Jamie Overton1 (1b)
  • Matthew Short2-0-9-3
  • Adam Zampa4-0-37-0

Livingstone will keep the strike, 21 to get from the last three

16.6
1
Short to Livingstone, 1 run, tossed up on leg stump, drilled to long-on
16.5
1
Short to Overton, 1 run, pushed through on the stumps and nudged leg side

Jamie Overton, a specialist bat in this side, is in at No.7

16.4
W
Short to Curran, OUT, Curran skips down... but holes out to extra cover! Two in the over for Short and the crowd has fallen silent for now. Just a smidge of turn and it took the edge, ballooned into the off side. Well held by Connolly as he backpedalled

SM Curran c Connolly b Short 1 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

16.3
1
Short to Livingstone, 1 run, stays round the wicket, whipped out to wide long-on
16.2
1
Short to Curran, 1 run, lobbed full on the stumps, Curran clips to long-on

In comes Sam Curran

16.1
W
Short to Bethell, OUT, attempted reverse, pegs back off stump! No sense of Bethell slowing down with the finish line in sight, he swings hard across the line and misses... Short shivers the timbers, picks up his second of the night. But surely too late to change the result?

JG Bethell b Short 44 (32m 24b 4x4 3x6) SR: 183.33

Head gambles with Short's offspin, 25 needed from 24

"Turning point for me is the batting by Jacob, his career best was 2 before this match…an innings he will remember !!" Well, that was his only previous knock on debut, Vinod Rajpal. But he's been very good tonight

END OF OVER:
16 | 6 Runs | ENG: 169/3 (25 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 10.56, RRR: 6.25)

  • Jacob Bethell44 (23b)
  • Liam Livingstone69 (38b)
  • Adam Zampa4-0-37-0
  • Sean Abbott3-0-29-2
15.6
1
Zampa to Bethell, 1 run, looped up full and wide of off, just 48mph/77kph. Bethell stretches and chips it higggggggggggghhhhhh... but short of long-off

England 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st34PD SaltWG Jacks
2nd0PD SaltJM Cox
3rd45LS LivingstonePD Salt
4th90LS LivingstoneJG Bethell
5th2LS LivingstoneSM Curran
6th22LS LivingstoneJ Overton
7th0J OvertonBA Carse
8th1AU RashidJ Overton