Liam Livingstone says he is enjoying the added responsibility up the order after his 87 tied England’s T20 international series with Australia 1-1 on Friday with one match remaining.
After his 87 tied England’s T20 international series against Australia at one game apiece on Friday, Liam Livingstone stated he is enjoying having more responsibility higher up. Together with contributions from skipper Travis Head (31) and Josh Inglis (42), Australia had amassed a massive score of 193/6 owing to Jake Fraser-McGurk’s first international fifty five. Livingstone, though, played a pivotal role both at bat and with the ball to set up Sunday’s winner-take-all series finale in Manchester.
Despite only delivering three overs, the spinner was the most effective bowler for England in his 50th Twenty20 international, finishing with 2-16.
After that, with the hosts up 34-2 after four overs, he took the wicket.
England’s side began to recover thanks to stand-in captain Phil Salt’s 39 off 23 deliveries, but Livingstone and Jacob Bethell’s explosive 90-run partnership off 47 balls turned the tide of the match in England’s favor.
“Coming in a five, six, or seven is not an easy task. Moving up the order gives me more responsibility and batting time, and I think my bat and ball are now in good shape,” stated Livingstone, who has struggled with injuries recently.
“I felt at the end of the Hundred that my body was returning to normal, which has been an issue for me for the past few years.
“It has taught me a few life lessons but I am enjoying my cricket and playing with a smile on my face.”
In just his second international, Bethell went for 44, but Livingstone held the wicket until the scores were level.
Matt Short (5-22) bowled Livingstone, denying him the opportunity to make the winning runs, but Adil Rashid’s single put England over the finish line with six balls remaining.Earlier, the tourists made another quick start, with Head hammering his 31 off just 14 balls, making England look destined for a chase of more over 200.
Australia were comfortably ahead at 119-2 in the thirteenth over when Fraser-McGurk was caught off Livingstone’s bowling, ending his spectacular century.
As in Australia’s 28-run victory in the first game of the series, it was up to the English spin attack to contain the damage.
As skipper in place of the ailing Mitch Marsh, Head remarked, “Good score, felt like we were right in the hunt and we were close.”
