A superb solo effort by Shane Watson with the bat enabled Australia to overcome a sloppy fielding effort and beat England in the opening One-Day International (ODI) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
One of the few Australians to emerge with his reputation intact after the Ashes disaster, Watson’s brilliant unbeaten 161 enabled the home side to chase down England’s imposing total of 294 from 49.4 overs with five balls to spare.
Fittingly, the right-hander hit the winning runs from the first ball of the last over, lofting Ajmal Shahzad over long-on for six to take Australia to 297 for four.
He and Brad Haddin laid the foundation for the win with a 110-run partnership, although another scratchy innings by captain Michael Clarke, who was jeered by home fans as he struggled for 36 from 57 balls, threatened to derail the chase.
However, Watson was not going to let his good work go unrewarded again as he reached his fifth ODI century from 110 balls and went on to post a career-best innings, hitting 12 fours and four sixes.
Watson said the innings was some compensation for failing to convert several promising starts into centuries during the Ashes. “To be able to play an innings like that is always nice,” said Watson.
“A few little things went my way, I got dropped once and a few shanks fell in the gaps, and you need that bit of luck to get a big score.”
‘Top quality knock’
England captain Andrew Strauss admitted the English simply could not rein in Watson. “A truly top quality knock,” said Strauss. “He strikes the ball very hard and he’s able to clear even very big boundaries, so it is hard to defend when he is in form.”
The solo effort of Watson, dropped on 44 by Jonathan Trott from the bowling of Chris Tremlett at mid-on, spared Australian blushes after a hapless performance in the field.
Kevin Pietersen led the way for England, who won the toss and elected to bat, with 78 from 75 balls including three sixes.
It was England’s highest total in an ODI against Australia in Australia, and also their highest at the MCG.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2011.
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