Australia complete England annihilation
Australia wrapped up an emphatic 6-1 series win over a weary England with a comprehensive 57-run win.
PERTH:
Australia wrapped up an emphatic 6-1 series win over a weary England with a comprehensive 57-run win in the seventh and final One-Day International. The home side made 279 for seven after winning the toss, and in reply England managed just 222, despite a lusty unbeaten 60 by Michael Yardy.
The English were never in the hunt after Andrew Strauss and Steven Davies both fell for ducks to leave them struggling at five for two. Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen tried to re-start the innings, but the loss of both their wickets and that of Ian Bell left England on 64 for five.
Mitchell Johnson claimed three for 18 for the home side and the wayward Shaun Tait three for 48, but he also conceded nine wides and five no-balls. After winning the toss and electing to bat, half-centuries by David Hussey and man-of-the-match Adam Voges helped the home side recover from a slow start to post an imposing total.
Australia were 103 for four in the 26th over when stand-in captain Cameron White was dismissed for 24.
However, Hussey and Voges then accelerated the Australian innings, putting on 95 in 83 balls. Voges remained unbeaten on 80 not out, while Hussey made 60.
The Australian innings got off to a controversial start when Tim Paine was given out lbw to Liam Plunkett for five on review. The Virtual Eye system said he was hit in line and that the ball was going on to hit the stumps, even though Paine had advanced well down the pitch by the time the ball struck his pad.
Although the English dropped a couple of sharp chances, they also held two magnificent catches. Opener Brad Haddin (27) was superbly caught by an alert Steve Finn and Matthew Prior took a classic on the mid-wicket boundary to remove Mitchell Johnson for 26 from the bowling of James Anderson (3-48). Prior leapt backwards as he retreated towards the boundary to snare the catch well above his head.
Despite their spectacular win, White claimed his team could produce a better performance for the upcoming World Cup, “It’s been very good but I still think there is another level that we can take it to, and need to, for a tournament like the World Cup,” White told Reuters.
Meanwhile, England conclude their hectic schedule and now return home for a few days of rest before departing for the tournament next weekend. “I think our minds are on the plane home now, definitely, but I don’t think that was the case out there today,” said Strauss. “To lose five wickets in the first 15 overs is criminal really when you are chasing down a big score and from that moment on, it was going to be hard.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2011.
Australia wrapped up an emphatic 6-1 series win over a weary England with a comprehensive 57-run win in the seventh and final One-Day International. The home side made 279 for seven after winning the toss, and in reply England managed just 222, despite a lusty unbeaten 60 by Michael Yardy.
The English were never in the hunt after Andrew Strauss and Steven Davies both fell for ducks to leave them struggling at five for two. Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen tried to re-start the innings, but the loss of both their wickets and that of Ian Bell left England on 64 for five.
Mitchell Johnson claimed three for 18 for the home side and the wayward Shaun Tait three for 48, but he also conceded nine wides and five no-balls. After winning the toss and electing to bat, half-centuries by David Hussey and man-of-the-match Adam Voges helped the home side recover from a slow start to post an imposing total.
Australia were 103 for four in the 26th over when stand-in captain Cameron White was dismissed for 24.
However, Hussey and Voges then accelerated the Australian innings, putting on 95 in 83 balls. Voges remained unbeaten on 80 not out, while Hussey made 60.
The Australian innings got off to a controversial start when Tim Paine was given out lbw to Liam Plunkett for five on review. The Virtual Eye system said he was hit in line and that the ball was going on to hit the stumps, even though Paine had advanced well down the pitch by the time the ball struck his pad.
Although the English dropped a couple of sharp chances, they also held two magnificent catches. Opener Brad Haddin (27) was superbly caught by an alert Steve Finn and Matthew Prior took a classic on the mid-wicket boundary to remove Mitchell Johnson for 26 from the bowling of James Anderson (3-48). Prior leapt backwards as he retreated towards the boundary to snare the catch well above his head.
Despite their spectacular win, White claimed his team could produce a better performance for the upcoming World Cup, “It’s been very good but I still think there is another level that we can take it to, and need to, for a tournament like the World Cup,” White told Reuters.
Meanwhile, England conclude their hectic schedule and now return home for a few days of rest before departing for the tournament next weekend. “I think our minds are on the plane home now, definitely, but I don’t think that was the case out there today,” said Strauss. “To lose five wickets in the first 15 overs is criminal really when you are chasing down a big score and from that moment on, it was going to be hard.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2011.