England too strong for Prime Minister's XI

England's preparation for the second ODI against Australia enjoyed a solid boost on the back of a convincing 172-run triumph over the Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Tuesday.
England's preparation for the second ODI against Australia enjoyed a solid boost on the back of a convincing 172-run triumph over the Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Tuesday.
Whitewashed five-nil in the Test match series and outgunned by opener Aaron Finch's brisk century in the first ODI, the tourists enjoyed some nominal reprieve on the back of fine half-centuries from batsmen Gary Ballance and Jos Buttler and seamer Ravi Bopara's four key wickets.
Captain Alastair Cook's decision to bat first after winning the toss was followed by initial alarm, but Ballance and Buttler were prompt in undoing the wrongs of Cook and the right-handed Joe Root's cheap dismissals.
While fast bowler Brett Lee cherished the opening brace, leg-spinner James Muirhead was the destroyer in-chief through the middle-order, securing figures of three for 52.
Buttler's 61, Ballance's 56 – and 47 and 36 for opener Michael Carberry and all-rounder Tim Bresnan respectively – had the final say in a formidable total of 264 for eight.
The hosts' pursuit was feeble, slumping to just 92 all out in 26 overs. An English attack minus the services of the rested Steven Finn was superb, with Bopara and the lanky Boyd Rankin the pick of the bunch en route to figures of four for three and two for 39 respectively.
The Prime Minister's XI found some consolation in the veteran Brad Hodge's standalone 28, with skipper Brett Lee's late-order dozen rivalled by 11 extras. The second ODI will get underway in Brisbane on Friday.
Latest
-
County Cricket
Middlesex relegated from Division One as Kent survive on dramatic final day
Middlesex fell just short of the victory they needed at Nottinghamshire to stay up instead of Kent.
-
India
England captain Jos Buttler believes India are favourites for World Cup
The last three editions of the Cricket World Cup – India in 2011, Australia in 2015 and England in 2019 – have been won by the host nation.
-
County Cricket
Surrey retain County Championship title after Essex batting collapse
The holders have been crowned champions for the 21st time.
-
County Cricket
Geoffrey Boycott: Everybody in Newcastle hates Mike Ashley amid Headingley links
The PA news agency understands the Frasers Group, where Ashley is chief executive, is one of the parties interested in purchasing Headingley.
-
County Cricket
Essex’s slim hopes of winning County Championship dented by Northamptonshire
Essex need at least 400 to have any chance of claiming top spot.
-
England
Matthew Mott: Jofra Archer ‘desperate to play but realistic’ ahead of World Cup
The 28-year-old is not expected to be ready to return to action until the tournament is close to a conclusion.
-
County Cricket
Umpire Sue Redfern makes history in County Championship match at Glamorgan
Redfern became the first woman to stand as an umpire in a men’s first-class match in England and Wales.
-
England
England’s summer ends in soggy fashion and prompts a call for innovation
The one-day international against Ireland at Bristol was abandoned.
-
England
England win ODI series against Ireland after play is abandoned at Bristol
Ben Duckett had scored a century and Phil Salt 61 off just 28 balls before rain stopped play.