Champions Trophy: Bell scripts England’s win

Batsman shines with 91-run knock as hosts beat Australia in Group A opener.

BIRMINGHAM:

England overpowered defending champions Australia in their ICC Champions Trophy Group A opener, winning by 48 runs at Edgbaston yesterday.

Fast-bowler James Anderson took three wickets and Tim Bresnan claimed two as England restricted Australia to 221 for nine after managing 269 for six courtesy Ian Bell’s superb 91.

Australia, who lost their swashbuckling opener David Warner for nine, took their time as they looked to keep wickets in hand for an onslaught in the closing stages of the game and reached 127 for three in the 33rd over.

However, the title-holders lost their way with Bresnan taking one and Anderson getting rid of two batsmen as Australia were reduced to 136 for six. James Tredwell then dismissed captain George Bailey – standing in for the injured Michael Clarke, still sidelined with a recurrence of a longstanding back injury – for 55 as all hope of a come-from-behind win finished with his dismissal for 55.

James Faulkner gave his side something to cheer about, completing his half-century in the final over but by then, the result was not in doubt.

Earlier, Bell shared a second-wicket stand of 111 with Jonathan Trott (43) after England won the toss.

At 168 for one in the 34th over, England were looking at a score in excess of 300.

But Australia pegged them back before an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 56 between Ravi Bopara (46 not out) and Bresnan (19 not out) bolstered England’s total.

Clint McKay took two wickets for 38 runs in his 10 overs and Faulkner two for 48.

All-rounder Shane Watson made the initial breakthrough for Australia when he had Alastair Cook caught behind for a fluent 30.

Ahead of next month’s Ashes series in England, there was a flare-up when angry Australia wicket-keeper Matthew Wade thought Trott had impeded him as he tried to gather a wayward return. Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena intervened to calm the situation. Much later, Trott was caught behind by Wade after chasing a wide ball from Starc.

Bell, who has just three hundreds to his name in 130 One-Day Internationals, was denied a fourth when Faulkner bowled him with a full length delivery.

Not for the first time, England came unstuck during the batting Powerplay that yielded a return of 23 for two, both those wickets lost on 189.

Eoin Morgan was then bowled by McKay and two balls later Jos Buttler, fresh from his 16-ball 47 not out against New Zealand on Wednesday, played on to Faulkner for one. However, Bopara gave the innings a final impetus to ensure England had a competitive total on the board.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2013.