Banton's 121, Atkinson's four-wicket haul power England to 135-run win over Australia

Tom Banton struck a brilliant century before Gus Atkinson claimed four wickets as England thrashed Australia by 135 runs in the second One-Day International at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, levelling the three-match series 1-1 and setting up a winner-takes-all decider.

Banton smashed 121 off 99 deliveries, including 12 fours and four sixes, as England posted an imposing 355 for six after being asked to bat first. It was England's highest ODI total on Australian soil.

Atkinson then produced a devastating opening spell to dismantle Australia's top order, reducing the hosts to 29 for four. Despite half-centuries from Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw, Australia were bowled out for 220 in 44.3 overs.

The victory marked an emphatic turnaround for England after their seven-wicket defeat in the opening ODI in Perth.

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and elected to field, but England's batters capitalised on the conditions to put the home side under sustained pressure.

England lost Ben Duckett for nine with the score at 19, but Banton and Joe Root rebuilt the innings with a commanding 137-run partnership for the second wicket.

Root contributed a fluent 62 off 68 deliveries before falling to Cooper Connolly, while Banton continued to dominate the Australian attack.

The right-handed batter reached his second ODI century in 86 balls and maintained an aggressive approach throughout his innings.

Banton eventually departed for 121 after being caught by Green off Xavier Bartlett, leaving England at 212 for four in the 35th over.

His innings laid the foundation for a formidable total, with England's middle order accelerating sharply during the closing stages.

𝐂𝐨𝐱, 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

Jordan Cox and Will Jacks ensured England maintained their momentum after Banton's dismissal, producing an aggressive partnership that pushed the visitors beyond 300.

Cox struck 67 off 49 balls, hitting six boundaries and a six, while Jacks remained unbeaten on 54 from 40 deliveries.

The pair added 102 runs for the fifth wicket, putting Australia's bowlers under considerable pressure during the final 15 overs.

Atkinson also contributed an unbeaten 13 off just four deliveries, including two sixes, as England finished at 355 for six.

Bartlett was Australia's most successful bowler, claiming three wickets for 72 runs, while Spencer Johnson, Riley Meredith and Connolly picked up one wicket each.

England's total surpassed their previous highest ODI score in Australia and left the hosts requiring a record chase to win.

𝐀𝐭𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫

Australia's pursuit of 356 began disastrously as Atkinson and Sonny Baker dismantled the top order inside seven overs.

Atkinson dismissed Travis Head for seven and Connolly for a duck in the third over, reducing Australia to 13 for two.

Baker then removed captain Marsh for two before Atkinson dismissed wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for three, leaving the hosts struggling at 29 for four.

The early collapse placed Australia under immense pressure and effectively shifted control of the contest towards England.

Atkinson finished with outstanding figures of four for 28 from his 10 overs, maintaining remarkable control while exploiting the conditions.

𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭

Green and Renshaw attempted to revive Australia's chase with a determined fifth-wicket partnership.

The pair added 98 runs, temporarily stabilising the innings after the early collapse.

Renshaw scored 63 off 74 deliveries, striking six boundaries, while Green contributed 64 from 82 balls, including two sixes.

However, Liam Dawson broke the partnership by trapping Renshaw leg-before-wicket, leaving Australia at 127 for five.

Sam Curran subsequently dismissed Jack Edwards for 17 and Bartlett for a duck in successive deliveries, reducing the hosts to 169 for seven.

Dawson then removed Green, who was stumped by Cox, effectively ending Australia's remaining hopes of a comeback.

Atkinson returned to dismiss Adam Zampa for 18 before Jofra Archer bowled Johnson for 14 to complete England's comprehensive victory.

Dawson finished with two wickets for 41 runs, while Curran also claimed two wickets.

𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐬

The result brought England level in the three-match series after Australia had won the opening encounter in Perth.

England's emphatic performance in Adelaide also provided a significant boost to their confidence ahead of the final ODI.

The two teams will meet in Hobart on Wednesday, November 18, with the series title at stake.

Following the ODI series, England and Australia will contest five Twenty20 Internationals, beginning in Melbourne on November 21.

Brief scores: England 355/6 in 50 overs (Tom Banton 121, Jordan Cox 67, Joe Root 62, Will Jacks 54 not out; Xavier Bartlett 3/72) beat Australia 220 all out in 44.3 overs (Cameron Green 64, Matt Renshaw 63; Gus Atkinson 4/28, Liam Dawson 2/41) by 135 runs. Series level 1-1.