Warner breaks century drought in Australia’s big win

Kangaroos claim bonus point in opening tri-series match against England

SYDNEY: Australian opener David Warner led his team to an emphatic three-wicket win over England in the opening ODI of the triangular series at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday.

The powerful left-hander's commanding century cancelled out a long overdue ton by new England skipper Eoin Morgan to help the Australians earn a bonus point for reaching the target inside 40 overs.

Morgan's lone hand of 121 off 136 balls with 11 fours and three sixes enabled England to recover from a disastrous start to make 234 in 47.5 overs.

Warner then made 127, breaking his own drought with his first ODI ton since back-to-back hundreds against Sri Lanka in 2012, as Australia cruised to the victory target with 61 balls to spare, finishing on 235-7 from 39.5 overs.

Warner faced 115 balls, hitting 18 fours, and fell when just eight runs were needed to win and Australia was chasing the bonus point.

He was delighted to become the first Australian to score a limited overs century against England at the SCG, his home ground. "It was good to score a hundred, it was a big one [getting the record], here at the SCG," said Warner. "Importantly, we won the game and we got a bonus point."

England have now won just three of their last 14 ODIs as they head towards next month's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Morgan took little solace from his own performance after the loss. "Ultimately the early wickets cost us," said Morgan. "I was happy with my performance to start like this as captain but devastated at the result."

In the first match of the triangular series, which also features India, Morgan won the toss in his debut as skipper since replacing Alastair Cook and elected to bat.

His sixth one-day century for England helped the tourists put on a defendable total before being dismissed in 47.5 overs.

Morgan was the only England batsman to score over 30.

 

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