Travis Head Stars As Australia Beat England To Seal ODI Series Victory

Travis Head starred with both bat and ball as world champions Australia beat England by 49 runs in a rain-marred fifth and final one-day international on Sunday to complete a 3-2 series win. England were set for a huge total when opener Ben Duckett (107) and in-form captain Harry Brook shared a third-wicket stand of 132 in 98 balls. But from 202-2 slow bowling proved England's undoing as they lost their last eight wickets for 107 runs to be dismissed for 309, with part-time spinner Head taking an ODI best 4-28. Australia made a blistering start to their chase, with openers Matthew Short (58) and Head (31) sharing a stand of 78 in slightly more than seven overs.

And when rain stopped play, Australia were 165-2 off 20.4 overs -- well ahead of the target required under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method for weather-affected white-ball games.

Steven Smith, leading Australia in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh, was 36 not out before the umpires called the game off at 6:00 pm local time (1700 GMT).

Short and Head punished a wayward England attack featuring Olly Stone, in for the rested Jofra Archer. But Brydon Carse struck with his first ball when he had left-hander Head caught at cover.

Matthew Potts, who had already dismissed Australia's Smith twice in the series, almost had the star batsman given out lbw for 10 but a review indicated the ball would have missed leg stump.

Short went to fifty when he pulled Carse for his fourth six in just 23 balls. But he was out when caught behind driving at Potts.

England then missed an opportunity when they didn't appeal after Josh Inglis, on two, got a thin edge off Carse to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Earlier, Steve Smith won the toss only for Phil Salt to launch England's innings with a