Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short heroics in vain as Aussies slump to historic England defeat

Liam Livingstone has consigned Australia's T20 cricket side to unwanted history after brushing off a milestone knock from Jake Fraser-McGurk and a record five-wicket haul from Matt Short to help England level the series at 1-1 in Cardiff. Fraser-McGurk scored his first international T20 half century to help the Aussies set a formidable 6-193 but Livingstone's devastating knock of 87 off 47 balls helped the home side secure a three-wicket win in record scenes.

Not even an astonishing feat from opening batter-turned part-time spinner Short could stop the England side marching to a series-levelling win as Livingstone's explosive innings helped England pull off the biggest ever T20I chase in Cardiff. Travis Head - who belted the quickest T20i half century for an Aussie against England in the opening game win - was unexpectedly handed the captaincy in Cardiff after Mitch Marsh withdrew because of illness.

And Head helped the Aussies get off to another superb start after hitting a brisk 31 before Fraser-McGurk lived up to his billing as David Warner's successor with a maiden 50. Head enjoyed a typically quick 14-ball blitz - including two sixes - after being sent into bat by England. And Fraser-McGurk, dropped for the first game in Southampton, made the most of his chance to lay the platform for Australia's innings.

The 21-year-old hammered Sam Curran for three straight boundaries and later deposited two sixes as he went to his 50 off just 29 balls, only to get caught in the deep a couple of balls later off man-of-the-match Livingstone's (2-16) impressive spin. Short also shone with the bat after scoring a valuable 28 at opener in a swift partnership of 52 alongside Head.

Josh Inglis made a valuable contribution with 42 off 26 balls, before a late unbeaten flurry of 20 off nine balls from Aaron Hardie that Australia's stand-in skipper described as "exceptional". Head's "gut instinct" was to give Short an early spin with the ball and he was rewarded as the part-timer tempted England's stand-in captain Phil Salt to hole out when on 39 off just 23 deliveries.

Opening batter Matt Short notches record five-wicket haul

But Head was left to lament the decision to leave it until so late to reintroduce Short after his initial spell. Two earlier wickets in three balls from Sean Abbott (2-37) had given Australia the edge but a blistering fourth-wicket stand of 90 from just 47 balls between Livingstone and Jacob Bethell, who treated key man Adam Zampa's spin with contempt, turned the game on its head.

Short's recall brought a glimmer of hope to Australia after he bowled Bethell (44 off 24 balls) and dismissed Curran two balls later. But Livingstone pummelled Short's spin in the decisive 19th over, hitting a fifth six and a four to guide England to within one run of victory with more than an over to spare.

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There was another twist in the tail when Short bowled Livingstone and had Brydon Carse caught at mid-on next ball to become the first opening batter from a full member nation to take a five-for in men's T20Is. Adil Rashid was relieved to finally hit the winning single off the spinner's hat-trick ball. Head admitted afterwards that he "should have bowled Short earlier" after the man who'd taken just two wickets previously in internationals, took four in his last 13 balls when recalled in the 17th over.

"Unfortunately, no win but I was just trying to keep the ship rolling for Mitch and hopefully he'll get better and he'll be back," Head said about his promotion to captain the side. "You go with your gut, and the game plan. You try to do your best and it doesn't always work, but we had some really good positives throughout. Didn't get the win, but that's okay, and we move on to Manchester."

Head conceded the absence of Marsh, injured quick Xavier Bartlett and the rested Josh Hazlewood meant it was "all hands on deck" for the Aussies as seam bowling allrounder Aaron Hardie (0-23 off two overs) and spinning allrounder Cooper Connolly (0-20 off two) came into the side. Scans revealed Bartlett suffered a side strain at Southampton and won't play in game three. Ben Dwarshuis joins the squad for the Old Trafford decider in which Hazlewood's experience will be crucial to Australia's chances.