BRISBANE _ All-rounder James Faulkner inflicted more misery on hapless England by delivering a remarkable one-day victory for Australia at the Gabba yesterday.
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With the tourists seemingly poised for their first win over Australia this summer, Faulkner smashed 69 runs off just 47 balls to chase down England's 8-300 with one wicket and three balls to spare.
Australia appeared dead and buried when it lost Glenn Maxwell (54) and Ashes hero Brad Haddin (26) in the 35th over, but with 30 needed off the final three overs, Faulkner launched an amazing display of hitting.
He belted consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes (1-74) in the 49th over and then smashed three fours in as many balls off the final over to get Australia home.
Faulkner and Clint McKay shared a 57-run last-wicket stand, with McKay contributing two in what is the highest successful run-chase in ODI history at the Brisbane venue.
``I knew I could do it deep down, but it's always nice to get the boys over the line,'' Faulkner said.
The victory lifts Australia to a 2-0 lead in the five-game series.
Earlier, Eoin Morgan's blistering 106 off 99 balls had looked like being a match-winning innings.
Morgan began slowly, but belted his final 50 off just 24 balls as he combined with wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler (49) in a 114-run, 68-delivery, sixth-wicket stand that blew Australia away.
His sixth one-day hundred looked a long way off when he was caught at midwicket for one, but correctly pointed out to the umpires Michael Clarke's delivery was a no-ball because Australia had one fielder too many outside the circle for a powerplay over.
That reprieve granted, Morgan first re-constructed England's innings alongside Ian Bell (68) after they had lost three quick wickets and then delivered a stunning finish along with Buttler.
Australia's chase began shakily with both openers falling to one-handed catches. Aaron Finch, a century-maker in Australia's game one victory, was snared by Gary Ballance off Chris Jordan's (2-53) bowling for a duck before Jordan took a sensational grab off his own bowling from a David Warner (18) drive.