Brilliant Bell demolishes Aussie PM’s XI
England batsman Ian Bell was the star of the show in his side's 60-run win over the Australian Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, smashing 187 in his side's total of 391 for six.
Bell opened the batting for the England XI with Moeen Ali, and the pair batted at a rollicking rate to put on 113 for the first wicket in under 15 overs. Moeen made his 71 off 49 balls, including 13 fours, before being caught off Glenn Maxwell at mid-on.
Bell continued his savagery with James Taylor by his side, and the Nottinghamshire man was more of an anchor. That is a relative term though, as he made 71 off 77 balls, positively pedestrian in comparison.
Taylor was out in the 39th over with the score on 254. Joe Root then stood idly by as Bell went to town against a not irrelevant pace attack. Root was out for 13 off the same number of balls, leaving Jos Buttler to continue with Bell.
The wicketkeeper made 25 before becoming one of Jason Behrendorff's four wickets, as did Eoin Morgan, who made just seven. Bell was the last man out, the score on 390, having faced 145 balls for his 187, his best list A score.
The home chase was a good one, as they made it to 331, but it would have taken a miracle of Chris Gayle proportions to reach the target. Maxwell could take heart from the game though, shrugging off recent poor form to make 136 off 89 balls.
Stuart Broad was the pick for England, taking four wickets, including Maxwell's. He wrapped up the tail with three wickets at the death, and the Aussies (and a Papua New Guinean) were out in the 49th over.
Latest
-
NewsGeorge Scrimshaw holds final-over nerves to guide Derbyshire past Lancashire
Scrimshaw successfully defended the 10 runs in the final over.
-
EnglandJonny Bairstow and England looking to ‘take the game forward’
Bairstow hit a run-a-ball hundred for the second Test in succession as England fought back spectacularly against New Zealand.
-
EnglandJonny Bairstow century leads thrilling England fightback at Headingley
The Yorkshireman made 130 not out and put on 209 with debutant Jamie Overton to rescue his side from 55 for six against New Zealand.
-
EnglandEngland top order left in tatters as New Zealand gain upper hand at Headingley
The hosts were 93 for six in reply to New Zealand’s 329 all out.
-
New ZealandDaryl Mitchell breaks record with another century against England
Mitchell broke Martin Donnelly’s New Zealand tally of 492 runs in a series in England, set back in 1949.
-
EnglandSuperb James Vince ton leads Hampshire to shock win over Somerset
Sussex’s five-match losing streak came to an end with a 17-run win over Surrey.
-
EnglandAdil Rashid to miss England’s India white-ball series to make Mecca pilgrimage
Rashid has found it difficult to make the pilgrimage due to timings and commitments.
-
EnglandJack Leach pleased with good luck but admits freak dismissal no collector’s item
New Zealand closed the opening day of the final Test against England on 225 for five after Henry Nicholls was dismissed in bizarre fashion.
-
EnglandStuart Broad stars on day one for England but error of judgement proves costly
Broad kept a week of celebrations going strong by striking before a run had been added and followed with the key scalp of Kane Williamson.
-
EnglandMatthew Mott expects England whitewash to ‘light fire’ under captain Eoin Morgan
Mott made an ideal start in his new role with a 3-0 one-day clean sweep of the Netherlands.