Australia vs. England, 1st Tri-Series ODI: Highlights, Scorecard and Report
Australia opened the Carlton Mid One-Day International Tri-Series with a comfortable three-wicket win over England in Sydney.
A century from Eoin Morgan helped England recover from a sorry start with the bat to post 234.
It was a total that looked below par on paper, and that was how it proved as Australia, on the back of a 127 from David Warner, chased down their target with over 10 overs to spare—which was enough to secure the win and a bonus point.
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England skipper Morgan elected to have first hit, seemingly confident his side could build on the impressive display in the recent game against the Prime Minister’s XI.
Ian Bell was the star of the show against the Prime Minister’s XI with a brilliant 187, but he lasted only one ball at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
A full, swinging ball from Mitchell Starc beat Bell’s defences, and he was trapped lbw without a run on the board.
Memories of the Ashes mauling by Australia were revived, with England unable to cope with the bowling barrage. That was hammered home two balls later as Starc trapped James Taylor lbw.
"Reckon Starc enjoyed that first over! Ali (1*) and Root (4*) out in the middle now: http://t.co/ZqEdYfw2kq #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/URpINsSFwK
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 16, 2015"
The scoreboard was a sorry tale for England, with two wickets down for zero runs at the end of the first over.
Joe Root was a shining light with the bat for England in 2014, but his first international appearance of 2015 was a brief one as he drove at a full ball from Pat Cummins and offered up a simple catch at first slip for Shane Watson.
England were in complete disarray at 33 for 4 when Bell’s opening partner, Moeen Ali, was removed by James Faulkner.
A captain’s knock was required, and that is exactly what England got. Morgan has been scratching around for form for quite some time but, with a World Cup on the horizon, he may be about to strike gold.
His knock at the SCG was of the highest class. With the pitch making scoring difficult, Morgan built a foundation before going through the gears. He played shots all around the ground and did not look troubled by any of the bowlers, including a comedy moment from Cummins.
"Sorry Pat, but we had to do it... LIVE: http://t.co/ZqEdYfw2kq #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/MSgbzjDLNt
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 16, 2015"
He brought up a quite brilliant hundred with a glorious lofted drive over extra cover.
"A century for Eoin Morgan in his first ODI as official England captain. Terrific, much needed knock while all around him have failed...
— Paul Newman (@Paul_NewmanDM) January 16, 2015"
Morgan upped the pace after passing three figures and threatened to give Australia a real headache, but Starc brought an end to England’s innings two overs early.
Morgan smashed a short ball straight to Glenn Maxwell on the fence at square leg and one ball later, he cleaned up No. 11 Steven Finn.
".@mstarc56 finished with 4-42 from 8.5 overs with England all out for 234. Scorecard: http://t.co/ZqEdYfw2kq #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/3yrSsatRAx
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 16, 2015"
A score of 234 was a solid total, but it could have been far better had England’s batsmen offered any support to their captain.
| Batsman | How Out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| IR Bell | lbw b Starc | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| MM Ali | c Maxwell b Faulkner | 22 | 41 | 21 |
| JWA Taylor | lbw b Starc | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| JE Root | c Watson b Cummins | 5 | 15 | 15 |
| EJG Morgan* | c Maxwell b Starc | 121 | 183 | 136 |
| RS Bopara | c Maxwell b Doherty | 13 | 30 | 18 |
| JC Buttler† | c Warner b Faulkner | 28 | 68 | 60 |
| CR Woakes | c Smith b Maxwell | 8 | 23 | 13 |
| CJ Jordan | c Maxwell b Faulkner | 17 | 28 | 21 |
| SCJ Broad | not out | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| ST Finn | b Starc | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Extras | (b 2, lb 3, w 14, nb 1) | 20 | ||
| Total | (all out; 47.5 overs) | 234 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| MA Starc | 8.5 | 0 | 42 | 4 |
| PJ Cummins | 9 | 1 | 42 | 1 |
| SR Watson | 4 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| JP Faulkner | 10 | 1 | 47 | 3 |
| GJ Maxwell | 6 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| XJ Doherty | 10 | 0 | 38 | 1 |
Australia have powerful strikers at the top of the order, and David Warner and Aaron Finch attempted to take advantage of the Powerplay overs.
Finch departed for 15, chopping on a wide ball from Chris Woakes, who a little later took a superb catch to send Shane Watson back to the pavilion.
Warner, though, continued mixing attack, defence and impish brilliance.
"That shot gets @StuartBroad8's approval. LIVE: http://t.co/ZqEdYfw2kq #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/uE7iFEzc5x
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 16, 2015"
With Warner scoring at a shade over a run a ball, scoreboard pressure was not an issue for Australia.
There was a brief moment of alarm for the home side as, shortly after Steven Smith had been bowled by Ali, Australia skipper George Bailey should have been run out.
Bailey went for a second run that was never on, but Steven Finn got himself in a terrible muddle and failed to break the stumps.
Warner went to his century with a sweep off Ali, which freed the opener up to hunt down the bonus point that was on offer.
Australia needed to reach their target by the end of the 40th over to claim the win and the extra point. The loss of Bailey and Glenn Maxwell threatened to halt the charge, but Warner and Haddin took 18 off a Stuart Broad over, and that helped them over the line.
| Batsman | How Out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| DA Warner | c Bell b Woakes | 127 | 169 | 115 |
| AJ Finch | b Woakes | 15 | 24 | 18 |
| SR Watson | c Woakes b Jordan | 16 | 27 | 20 |
| SPD Smith | b Ali | 37 | 62 | 47 |
| GJ Bailey* | c †Buttler b Woakes | 10 | 36 | 25 |
| GJ Maxwell | c †Buttler b Woakes | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| BJ Haddin | run out (Bopara) | 16 | 15 | 8 |
| JP Faulkner | Not Out | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| MA Starc | Not Out | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Extras | (lb 7, w 1) | 8 | ||
| Total | (7 wickets; 39.5 overs) | 235 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| CR Woakes | 8 | 1 | 40 | 4 |
| ST Finn | 8 | 1 | 48 | 0 |
| SCJ Broad | 6.5 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
| CJ Jordan | 6 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| MM Ali | 9 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| RS Bopara | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
The action continues apace, with Australia facing India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. England will have to shake off this loss, as they face India at The Gabba on Tuesday.
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