The greatest show of all: This is why we love Glenn Maxwell

Australia’s one-day series looked done and dusted after another big collapse. But no target is impossible with The Big Show at the crease.

Glenn Maxwell has had no trouble reaching the short boundaries. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images for ECB)

Australia has recorded one of the greatest wins in our one-day history after Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey hit twin tons in an incredible comeback victory.

The visitors became the first team to beat the Poms in a one-day series in the UK in five years after looking toast at 5/73 from 17 overs in pursuit of 7/302.

But Maxwell and Carey launched a counter-attack, combining for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in Australian ODI history to pull the target within reach.

Their 212-run stand reduced the chase to 18 runs from 15 balls when Maxwell was out for 108 off 90 deliveries — his highest one-day score.

“There's not too many bowlers in the world who can bother him when he’s having one of those days,” Aussie skipper Aaron Finch said of his star man. “It was pretty special.”

“It probably wasn’t the ideal situation when I came in but being the last batter, I suppose I had a bit of license to go for it right from the start,” added Maxwell, after blasting seven sixes.

“We thought if we could take it as deep as we could, myself and Alex, we might be a chance at the back end.”

Carey, who entered the match under huge pressure following calls for him to be dropped, took 106 deliveries to reach triple figures after luckily surviving being caught off a Jofra Archer no ball on nine.

He also fell with victory in sight, being caught at third man for 106 off the final ball of the 49th over.

It left Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc at the crease needing 10 runs to win. Mark Wood (0/40 from nine overs) had been England’s most economical bowler and had an over left, but English skipper Eoin Morgan ignored him and handed the ball to spinner Adil Rashid (1/69 from 7.4 overs).

It was an error as Starc needed only four deliveries to get the Aussies home, belting Rashid’s first delivery over long-on for six and then — after a pair of singles — sweeping a four for the winning runs.

“We were still in the game, when you break big partnerships and the ball is offering a bit, you’re never out of the game,” Morgan said. “But Australia were too good for us.”

Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell, take a bow. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images for ECB)

Earlier, Jonny Bairstow revived England from the depths of 2/0 with a superb hundred as the world champions made triple figures in the third and deciding one-day international at Old Trafford.

Opening batsman Bairstow watched from the other end as left-arm quick Mitchell Starc took two wickets with the first two balls of the match.

But Bairstow counterattacked superbly and went to his century in style with a legside six off a delivery from fast bowler Pat Cummins.

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He made 112 before falling to Cummins’s slower ball and with Chris Woakes making an unbeaten 53, England passed 300.

Bairstow’s 10th century in 83 matches at this level came from 116 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes.

He also shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 114 with Sam Billings, whose 57 followed his 118 in England’s series-opening loss.

England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and batted on a fresh pitch with the three-match series all square at 1-1.

But from the first ball, Jason Roy edged a drive off Starc to Glenn Maxwell at backward point.

Next ball, Starc had Test captain Joe Root LBW with an inswinger.

England was 2/0 before left-hander Morgan survived the hat-trick. Morgan (23) drove Adam Zampa to mid-off before the in-form leg-spinner had Jos Buttler chipping to extra-cover for just eight.

But Billings gave Bairstow excellent support, completing a 53-ball fifty before he too fell to Zampa, when a miscued reverse sweep lobbed to short third man.

Zampa finished with fine figures of 3/51 from his maximum 10 overs — becoming the first Aussie to take 10 wickets in a three-match ODI series. When Bairstow was dismissed, England was 6/220.

Adil Rashid, taking advantage of a short legside boundary when the bowling was from the Pavilion End, heaved Starc for six.

In the last over, Josh Hazlewood conceded 14 runs.

Woakes faced just 38 balls for his fifty, with England adding a valuable 53 runs off the last five overs. Starc finished with a relatively expensive 3/74.

Jonny Bairstow made a fine century. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images for ECB)

England looked to have the match and the series in its grasp as pace bowler Woakes took the first two wickets early in Australia’s chase, having captain Aaron Finch lbw and Marcus Stoinis caught off a leading edge at midwicket.

Joe Root then emerged as a surprise packet with the ball, bowling David Warner for 24 and having Mitch Marsh caught for two as Australia’s top five all failed.

SMITH ‘A LITTLE GROGGY’, OUT AGAIN

Australia was again without Steve Smith, the star batsman not featuring at all in this series after being hit on the head by a throwdown from a member of the tourists’ coaching staff while batting in the nets last Thursday.

The visitors insisted he was being rested purely as a precaution despite passing two concussion tests.

But, having seen Smith bat in the nets again on Tuesday, they decided against playing him, with Australia captain Aaron Finch saying at the toss: “Steve Smith had a long hit yesterday and pulled up a little groggy. When you’re dealing with a head injury, you want to be cautious.”

Australia was unchanged but England recalled fast bowler Wood, fit after an ankle injury, in place of Sam Curran.

That followed a dramatic 24-run win on Monday when Australia, seemingly cruising to victory, lost its last eight wickets for 63 runs.

— with AFP