Finch fires Aussies to classy win
Australia made light work of England's total in the first ODI in Melbourne on Sunday, winning by six wickets and with four overs to spare thanks to a century opening stand and a ton to Aaron Finch.
Australia made light work of England's total in the first ODI in Melbourne on Sunday, winning by six wickets and with four overs to spare thanks to a century opening stand and a ton to Aaron Finch.
England posted a wobbly 269 for seven in their 50 overs, thanks to half tons from Eoin Morgan and Gary Ballance, but it was not enough as Finch (121) and David Warner (65) did the damage early in the chase.
The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first, but were soon three down for very few as skipper Alastair Cook and Joe Root were both removed by CLint McKay. Cook was gone in the first over, nicking behind to Brad Haddin.
Root lasted more than 20 balls but only managed to score three runs, leaving Ian Bell to try and salvage the top order. He made a valiant 41 and shared a stand of 40 with Ballance, before being bowled by Xavier Doherty.
Ballance and Morgan then put on a stand of 83 over the next 14 overs, at a run rate of nearly six, and looked to be doing well in building a score of at least 300. But Morgan was out a few moments after scoring his 50, caught by Nathan Coulter-Nile off Glenn Maxwell.
The rookie Ballance made his way to a top innings score of 79 before falling to McKay, and Ben Stokes and Ravi Bopara soon joined him in the dressing room for unimpressive scores.
The decent target was brought about thanks to some swift hitting at the death by Jos Buttler, who made 34 not out, and Tim Bresnan contributed 16 off nine balls.
The chase got off to a flyer for the hosts, and they were helped along more than once by dropped catches, edges into gaps and misfields on the boundary. The most memorable moment though was when David Warner was out, and then not.
The opener edged Ben Stokes to Buttler with his score on 21, and the keeper took it low to the ground. Warner was happy with the catch, but the umpires wanted to make sure it carried. Replays showed the ball bouncing just into Buttler's gloves, but the umpires deemed it had brushed the grass first.
As such, a surprised Warner was recalled to the middle, and he went on to record his half century, and he and Finch put on 163 for the first wicket. Once he fell for 65, caught by Stokes off Root, Shane Watson was out for a duck.
This left Finch and skipper Michael Clarke to continue and they upped the rate with a stand of 67, during which time Finch made his century. He advanced to 121 before being caught by Ballance off Stokes in the 40th over.
Clarke made his merry way to 43 before being removed by Tim Bresnan, but it was already too late for England as Glenn Maxwell and George Bailey scored the remaining few runs in the 46th over.
Latest
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.