Mitchell Starc sets unwanted record in 4th ODI against England
Australian speedster Mitchell Starc has made some unwanted history during the fourth ODI against England at Lord's. He bowled the costliest over in ODIs by an Australian bowler. This happened in a rain-affected match that was curtailed to 39 overs per side. English all-rounder Liam Livingstone hammered Starc for a stunning 28 runs in the final over of England innings.
Livingstone's onslaught on Starc
Livingstone went hammer and tongs at Starc, smashing him for a six over long-on, followed by another maximum over deep square leg after a dot ball. He then struck a massive hit over long-off and another one over deep square leg for a hat-trick of sixes. The final ball of the over was sliced toward backward point for four, taking the total runs from the over to 28.
Starc's economy rate and previous record holders
Starc had a tough outing, with an economy of 8.75 per over. He ended up giving away 70 runs without taking a single wicket in his eight-over spell. Before him, the record for the most expensive over by an Aussie bowler belonged to Xavier Doherty, Adam Zampa, and Cameron Green, who each leaked 26 runs in an over. Doherty's costly over came against India in 2013/14, while Zampa and Green faced similar fates last year against SA and India, respectively.
Most expensive over in ODI history
The costliest over in ODI history belongs to Daan van Bunge of the Netherlands, who famously bowled six consecutive sixes to South African legend Herschelle Gibbs during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. This unfortunate feat made him the first-ever player to concede six sixes in an over in international cricket. While Starc's expensive over falls short of this record, it still marks a low point for Australian bowling in ODIs.
Australia's heavy defeat and England's victory
Australia faced a tough defeat, losing by 186 runs while chasing a target of 313. They were bowled out for just 126 runs in 24.4 overs, marking their fourth-biggest loss in ODIs by runs. This victory is England's second-biggest win at Lord's in terms of runs after their 202-run triumph against India in 1975 World Cup.
