Banton century and Atkinson’s four wickets level England-Australia ODI series

Tom Banton’s century and four wickets from Gus Atkinson helped England beat Australia by 135 runs in Adelaide, levelling the one-day international series at 1-1 and setting up a decider in Hobart on Wednesday.

England made 355-6, their highest ODI total in Australia, after being bowled out for 131 in Perth two days earlier. Banton scored 121, while Jordan Cox made 67 and Joe Root 62. Australia were dismissed for 220 in 44.3 overs, with Atkinson taking 4-28.

The win ended England’s six-match losing run against Australia in away 50-over cricket, and a seven-match losing run against the Australians across formats in Adelaide. It also followed defeats by Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but England have won three ODI series this year, underlining the uneven form that has marked their campaign.

Sonny Baker, making his first appearance against Australia, took the new ball and found swing, dismissing captain Mitchell Marsh for two. Atkinson removed Travis Head for the second match in a row and also dismissed Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis.

England dropped four catches, and Australia’s Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw both made more than 60. But Sam Curran took two wickets in two balls late in the innings, while Liam Dawson claimed 2-41.

Banton has now scored four half-centuries and two centuries in nine innings as an opener, a role he took on after Jacob Bethell was injured. His latest hundred included a 137-run partnership with Root, followed by a late acceleration from Cox and Will Jacks, who helped England take 110 runs from the final 10 overs.

The series decider is in Hobart on Wednesday, with play scheduled to start at 03:30 GMT.