Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell flexed their muscles as England defied a shock five-wicket haul from part-timer Matthew Short to set up a T20 series decider against Australia on Sunday.
Set 194, England slipped to 79 for three when Phil Salt walked into an apparent trap laid by fellow stand-in captain Travis Head, holing out to Short, but a boundary laden stand of 90 in 47 balls between Livingstone and Bethell broke the back of the chase.
Bethell’s dismissal for 44 off 24 balls with the finish line in sight disrupted England but Livingstone carried them to the brink of victory with a superb 87 off 47 deliveries, including five sixes and six fours.
He was bowled with the scores tied and Brydon Carse senselessly slogged in the air next ball to give Short, who had previously only taken two international wickets, his maiden professional five-for.
However, Adil Rashid steered to backward point for the single England needed for a three-wicket win with six balls to spare at Cardiff, tying the three-match series at 1-1 heading to the Kia Oval this weekend.
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