England were spared the blushes of a first one-day series whitewash beating Australia by four wickets at the Riverside. After winning the toss for the tenth time this summer, skipper Andrew Strauss put the Aussies out to bat.
It was reversed roles as Australia lost wickets on a regular basis, unable to establish a partnership and a respectable total in the process, Graeme Swann starring for England with his first one-day five-wicket haul. Opening duo Strauss (46) and Joe Denly (53) replied supremely for England with a 106-run partnership, something England had been urging for all summer.
A middle-order collapse followed, but the win was never in doubt as the total was easily within reach, Paul Collingwood and Tim Bresnan finishing off the job and the great escape for England. Australia head to South Africa as confident 6-1 victors, whilst England follow them having regained at least some hope, that they can win one-dayers after all.
Run of Play: Advantage to...
Australia:
32 for 2 after 10 overs: England - Australia were uncharacteristically shaky and two wickets down with less than 20 runs on the board. Shane Watson fell for a duck against Graeme Swann, caught at first slip just the fourth ball of the day, and Tim Paine followed him caught behind for just 4 against beautiful line and length by Graham Onions on his one-day debut.
73 for 2 after 20 overs: Australia - Captain Ricky Ponting (44*) and Michael Clarke (21*) steadied the ship for the Aussies with some exquisit timing and confident boundary shots. Good bat and field made entertaining cricket.
113 for 5 after 30 overs: England - And the Aussies are crumbling. Clarke (38) set off slow and was run out by a good throw by Eoin Morgan. Ponting (53) and Cameron White (1) fell soon after, the prior's miscue caught by Collingwood and the latter bowled, both against an in-form Swann.
149 for 6 after 40 overs: England - Little runs and another wicket: James Hopes bowled and caught by Swann, leaving Michael Hussey (32*) and Mitchell Johnson (6*) to restore Australia and take them to a respectable and defendable total.
176 all out after 45.5 overs: England - Johnson was the first to go, caught by James Anderson off Swann. He was followed by Brett Lee, bowled for a duck by Swann, who completed his first five-wicket haul. Nathan Hauritz was caught and bowled by Owais Shah and Hussey was the last man out for 49, completing a dire batting display by Australia, a rarity this summer, normally the home side's feature and problem.
England:
47 for 0 after 10 overs: England - Andrew Strauss and Joe Denly are helpes to a good start by some indifferent bowling with too many no-balls and wides of Brett Lee and Ben Hilfenhaus. Very negligent cricket by Australia, especially regarding the low total they have to defend.
47 for 0 after 10 overs: England - Andrew Strauss and Joe Denly are helpes to a good start by some indifferent bowling with too many no-balls and wides of Brett Lee and Ben Hilfenhaus. Very negligent cricket by Australia, especially regarding the low total they have to defend.
104 for 0 after 20 overs: England - And the home side are cruising on with some beautiful, proper cricket shots, Strauss on 46 and Denly on 41.
140 for 4 after 30 overs: Australia - And another collapse by England: Strauss (47) gave his wicket away once again trying a reverse sweep against Nathan Hauritz and ending up caught by Hilfenhaus. As a captain, he should be more responsible than that and leave the flashes to the star men. Denly (53) completed his half century which had done England a world of good until he got run out, another confusion involving Ravi Bopara, who passed 1000 one-day runs, but fell lbw shortly afterwards. Very annoying by England.
177 for 6 after 40 overs: England - Paul Collingwood and Tim Bresnan complete the job for England - well, courtesy of another no-ball that is. Eoin Morgan fell for 32 caught behind off Lee, Matt Prior following him into the stands after a terrible mistake gave Ponting an easy catch, another lame dismissal. With 80 balls left and only 15 runs needed, Collingwood and Bresnan just needed to bat it out, which the middle-order once again failed to do, giving away wickets unnecessarily and stupidly. But England will at least have gained some confidence back after this win, eventhough they lost the series 6-1, and will have to build on it when they head off to South Africa for the ICC Champion's Trophy.
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