Aussies continue to maul England

Hosts eye ODI whitewash after seven-wicket win in third ODI.

SYDNEY: David Warner and Shaun Marsh smashed fifties to complement their bowlers’ efforts as Australia crushed England by seven wickets in the third One-Day International (ODI) in Sydney on Sunday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Warner blasted seven boundaries and two sixes in his 71 off just 70 balls, while fellow left-hander Marsh remained unbeaten on 71 to anchor the chase as Australia maintained an utter dominance of their arch-rivals.

The hosts comfortably chased down their 244-run target with 10 overs to spare.

Warner added 78 for the second wicket with Marsh, who later combined with captain Michael Clarke to take the team closer to victory.

Later, Brad Haddin (37 not out) had an unbroken stand of 72 in just 68 balls with Marsh to guide the team to the target.

Earlier, England wasted a brisk start from openers Alastair Cook (35) and Ian Bell (29) to end on 243 for nine wickets in their 50 overs.

Eoin Morgan (54) was once again the top-scorer for England and his dismissal robbed the visitors of any momentum in the closing stages.

It was left to a slogging Tim Bresnan to take England to a fighting total with a 29-ball 41.

Nathan Coulter-Nile was the most successful bowler for Australia, picking up three wickets for 47 runs.

Meanwhile, Cook is considering his future as England’s ODI captain after his side’s loss.

“I think English cricket needs a little bit of a change,” said Cook, who leads England in Tests and the 50-over format.

“We have kept losing games of cricket and I haven’t been able to turn it around.”

Cook said of his captaincy: “I think I’m going to have to make a decision on that after you take stock of the next two games.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2014.

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