England wins the third ODI vs Australia

   James Taylor's maiden one-day international century and some 

tight spin bowling saw England to a 93-run win over Australia at 

Old Trafford on Tuesday as they kept the series alive.

Australia, set 301 to win, were dismissed for 207 with six overs of 

their innings left. Victory in this day/night fixture would have 

given the world champions an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-

match ODI series. But instead England -- who had lost 11 times in 

their previous 12 one-dayers against Australia -- cut the tourists' 

lead to 2-1 with two to play. Off-spinner Mooen Ali and leg-

spinner Adil Rashid shared five wickets between them, with Ali's 

three for 32 in his full 10 overs the all-rounder's best ODI figures.

Aaron Finch, brought into the side after fellow opener David 

Warner was ruled out of the rest of the series with a fractured 

thumb suffered during Australia's win in the second ODI at Lord's 

on Saturday, scored briskly on his way to 53.

   But fellow opener Joe Burns fell for nine when he chipped 

Steven Finn to England captain Eoin Morgan at mid-off.

Australia captain Steven Smith walked out to boos after upholding 

an appeal for obstructing the field that led to Ben Stokes's 

controversial dismissal at Lord's.

    Having survived a tough chance because of the diminutive 

Taylor's lack of reach, Smith (25) was brilliantly caught when 

diving fast bowler Finn used his 6ft 7in frame to hold a stunning 

one-handed catch at short mid-wicket off Rashid.

The Yorkshireman, gaining sharp turn, then dismissed Finch (53) 

when Chris Woakes held a lofted drive at long-on.

     His exit was the start of a mini-collapse that saw three wickets 

lost for 35 runs to leave Australia in trouble at 141 for five.Glenn 

Maxwell, after reverse-hitting Ali for two fours in as many balls, 

tried to make it three in a row only to miscue and be caught off a 

top edge by wicket-keeper Jonathan Bairstow.

George Bailey (25) obligingly hoiked an Ali full toss straight to 

Stokes at mid-wicket. Jason Roy then held a remarkable catch, 

running round from long-on, after Ashton Agar launched Liam 

Plunkett high into the deep.

Roy 'lost' the ball in the floodlights and, arching backwards, 

dropped a one-handed chance only to grab the ball at the second 

attempt before hitting the turf. Finn ended the match emphatically 

by bowling Matthew Wade (42).

Earlier, Taylor's century was the cornerstone of England's 300 for 

eight after Morgan won the toss. Taylor, brought back for this 

series with Ashes-winner Joe Root rested, was out for 101.

The 25-year-old Nottinghamshire batsman, playing his 21st match 

at this level, faced 114 balls. His first fifty included just one four 

and he managed just five in total but, significantly, he got England 

to a score their bowlers could defend.

Taylor and Morgan (62), who won the toss, put on 119 for the 

third wicket. But the partnership would have been curtailed had 

not wicket-keeper Wade missed a stumping off ODI debutant 

spinner Agar when left-hander Morgan was on 15.

Roy (63) launched England's innings in style after Morgan won the 

toss with his second fifty in three innings this series. But he was 

unable to better his previous highest score at this level of 67 in the 

series opener at Southampton, chipping Agar to short extra-cover.

Taylor went to his hundred in nervous fashion when his drive off 

Pat Cummins hit non-striker Woakes's bat and rebounded into the 

stumps. He sprinted down the pitch and dived for a definitive 

scrambled single.