In reply, Australia reached the modest target with 13 overs to spare, finishing on 197 for seven, but the chase was not without concerns as they struggled to win their first game in the five-match series and turn around their dismal recent one-day form. England had already secured the series by taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead in Sydney last Sunday, and that result had left the current World Cup holders with just one win in their past 11 completed ODIs. Head looked certain to notch his second limited-overs century, but pulled a short ball from Mark Wood straight to Eoin Morgan at mid-on, having faced 107 balls and hit 15 fours.Australia win by three wickets and our lead in the series is reduced to 3-1. Scorecard: https://t.co/PAx99WAgVU #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/1ykQuiP7l3
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 26, 2018
That England were able to post any sort of competitive total was quite remarkable given their horror collapse in the early overs. On Australia Day, it was all the home side as the tourists lost five wickets with just eight runs on the board. Steve Smith had sent them in to bat for the second successive match, this time in humid conditions which favoured seam bowlers.What a terrible start it was for the tourists... England couldn't recover from their early slump and it was Travis Head who guided Australia to victory in the 4th ODI #AUSvENGReport ? https://t.co/qFGRzsjreD pic.twitter.com/gVGxJeFtLj
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 26, 2018
Their lowest total of 86 looked in danger until all-rounder Chris Woakes came to the rescue. In the end, solid resistance from Woakes (78) along with Morgan and Moeen Ali (33 each) -- and Tom Curran (35) -- enabled England to scramble to a decent total. Woakes continued his excellent form with the bat in the series, hitting five sixes in the 82 balls he faced before being caught on the boundary off Andrew Tye (3-33).England batting being blown away in Adelaide 1-0 2-4 3-4 4-6 5-8https://t.co/YBkBUUGDIu #AUSvENG
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 26, 2018
The rot set in early for the tourists. Jason Roy, who got England rolling in the series with a record-breaking 180 in the opening match, fell to the second ball of the innings, caught at point by Smith off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood (3-39) for a duck. Alex Hales (3) was the second to fall, bowled off his pads by Pat Cummins, who snared a career-best 4-24.From 5 for 8, England have done well to finish on 196. Easy chase for Australia? https://t.co/YBkBUUGDIu #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/6MYGX9GTX6
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 26, 2018
Opener Jonny Bairstow was caught behind from the bowling of Hazlewood for a duck, and Test captain Joe Root also fell without scoring, caught on the fine leg boundary after top-edging a hook shot from the bowling of Cummins. Jos Buttler, coming off a match-winning century in Sydney, became the fourth batsman dismissed without scoring, caught behind from the bowling of Hazlewood as England collapsed. However, Woakes picked up where he left off in an unbeaten half-century in Sydney, and had good support from the previously out-of-form Ali and number 10 Curran. The final match of the series is in Perth on Sunday, and is a sell-out as it is the opening of the city's new stadium.Australia have made a good start as they aim for 197 to win the 4th ODI v England. Warner 6* Head 0* ?? Join us live for all the action on @5liveSport extra and online ? https://t.co/4RZPUEtXI9 #AUSvENG #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/tlXgjqEocS
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 26, 2018
England lose fourth ODI to Australia after suffering startling battling collapse @Vitu_E https://t.co/oZLJI4IpYM pic.twitter.com/d8PVT8khRs
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) January 26, 2018
