Zee Media Bureau/Manushree Chaumal
SCORECARD» | COMMENTARY» | MATCH REPORT »
================================================================
Australia innings
Over 45.4 || Score 270/4
Australia won the first ODI by six wickets against England to start the five-match ODI series on a winning note. England set the target of 269 runs while batting first, but Australia achieved it quite comfortably with 26 balls to spare. After thrashing the visitors 5-0 in the return Ashes, Aussies have continued their good form in the ODIs as well. Australian openers – Aaron Finch and David Warner -- added 163 runs for the first wicket and provided their team a solid start up-front. Finch was rewarded with MOM award for playing a sensational knock of 121 runs.
================================================================
Over 43 || Score 252/4
Michael Clarke goes back the pavillion, wonder had this wicket taking spree been started earlier by England, the game could have been different.
Australia need 18 runs to win.
Clarke c Cook b Bresnan 44 (43b)
================================================================
Over 40 || Score 241/3
After a stupendous innings of 121 runs, Aaron Finch is out. England get their third wicket, albeit too late. Australia need merely 29 runs to win the match. Clarke and George Bailey will look forward to finish off the match now.
Finch c Ballance b Stokes 121 (128b, 12x4)
================================================================
Over 35|| Score 204/2
Australia need 66 to win in last 15 overs. Meanwhile, Aaron Finch completed his century, in style! His innings along with Warner tilted the game, the Aussie way.
================================================================
Over 30 || Score 171/2
Finally, there is a ray of hope for England. Shane Watson is out for a duck. Jordan knocked off the off stumps to dismiss Watson, right in the next over after Warner's departure. Skipper Michael Clarke joins Finch. Australia need 99 runs to win.
Watson b Jordan 0 (2b)
================================================================
Over 28 || Score 164/1
The ball went up high in the air, while Cook looked on apprehensively, Stokes finally managed to take this catch. Warner is gone. But only after placing Australia at a winning position. The first wicket partnership was a whooping 163 runs. Shane Watson joins Finch.
Australia need 106 runs to win.
Warner c Stokes b Root 65 (72b, 5x4, 1x6)
================================================================
Over 25 || Score 144/0
Warner and Finch are still going strong and are in no mood to give up their wickets. Following Finch, Warner has also completed his half-century in style. Australia need 126 runs to win. The openers are well settled and are hitting fours and sixes all over the park.
================================================================
Over 20 || Score 116/0
England's fielding miseries continue. They have yet not managed to break the cementing partnership of Warner and Finch. England desperately need wickets. Australia need 154 runs to win. Will the openers finish it off for the hosts? It seems so as the English bowlers have yet not been able to find any answers to the openers' lovely batting antics.
================================================================
Over 15 || Score 88/0
The Ashes defeat has punctured England desires to win, anything. Their fielding is deteriorating, they show no excitement on field! David Warner just got lucky. He was off the field after an apparent catch out dismissal by Buttler, however after much discussions and replays it is decided that Warner is not out. He comes back swinging! Australia need 182 runs to win. Finch is on 56 off 50 balls while Warner is at 25 off 40 balls.
================================================================
Over 10 || Score 64
The sixth over was quite a dramatic one, with a huge appeal by Jordan for Finch's lbw. Cook went for a review albeit an unsuccessful one. Finch stays and along with David Warner made the full use of the power play. The duo have taken the Aussie scoreboard well past 60 runs. England meanwhile have yet not managed any breakthrough. With the speed this duo is playing all over the park hitting boundaries everywhere, England need to break this sealing partnership.
================================================================
Over 5 || Score 28
Alastair Cook and Co are out on the field, trying to salvage some pride after the forgettable Ashes Tests. Meanwhile, swashbuckling opener David Warner and Aaron Finch have begun the Aussie proceedings. Chris Jordan and Boyd Rankin bagan with the England camapign. Australia need 242 runs to win.
================================================================
England innings
Over 50 || Score 269/7
England have managed a defending total finally. After the quick fall of wickets, this score looked a distant dream, however, thanks to Garry Ballance and Eoin Morgan's partnership that provided some stability to the scoreboard and later Buttler's knock of 34 runs off 24 balls gave England a respectable total, at least this gives them a reason to fight for.
================================================================
Over 46 || Score 229/7
Ben Stokes couldn't last six overs, his wicket being the sixth English wicket to fall. While Gary Ballance finally fell in the 46th over to McKay who claimed his third wicket of the day. Tim Bresnan and Jos Buttler are the two new English batsmen at the crease. They will now look forward to add some quick runs, hoping to take the total at least past 250 in the last 4 overs.
Stokes b Faulkner 21 (20b, 2x4)
Ballance c Doherty b McKay 79 (96b, 6x4)
================================================================
Over 40 || Score 182/5
Batting power play was taken after the 35th over. Ballance completed his half-century a well-deserved one, but England's fall of wickets continue. Australia get their fifth wicket in the 38th over. Ravi Bopara goes at 17 runs. Another 10 overs left for England and the total is still not a respectable one. Ben Stokes, a player whose run in the Tests was a good one, joins Ballance at the crease.
Bopara c Haddin b Coulter-Nile 17 (21b, 1x4)
================================================================
Over 32 || Score 147/4
Eoin Morgan played his part well; at least gave some stability to the faltering top order before getting out, after his half-century. Morgan hit the ball straight to the fielder at extra cover, Coulter-Nile, who took an easy catch to send the batsman back to the pavillion. It is a big wicket for Australia. Ballance, meanwhile stays and is at 42 runs. Ravi Bopara joins Ballance at the crease.
Morgan c Coulter-Nile b Maxwell 50 (47b, 5x4, 1x6)
================================================================
Over 28 || Score 124/3
Despite losing some early on wickets, finally England have managed to cross the 100 runs mark, adding 61 runs in last 10 overs. Meanwhile, Clarke is trying all possible bowling changes to get rid of these two batsmen, who are slowly but steadily going ahead with a good partnership. They have started going for occasional big shots, fully aware of the importance their wickets hold.
================================================================
Over 18 || Score 63/3
Barely five overs later, Australia get yet another breakthrough. England lose their third wicket. Ian Bell is out. It is Doherty who struck this time. Bell is clean bowled. Eoin Morgan joins Ballance.
Bell b Doherty 41 (56b, 2x4, 1x6)
================================================================
Over 12 || Score 37/2
Ballance and Bell have handled last five overs pretty well, adding 13 runs to the England total, more importantly without loss of wickets. Glenn Maxwell and Xavier Doherty take over from McKay and Nathan Coulter-Nile after the 10th over.
================================================================
Over 7 || Score 22/2
McKay got his second wicket by trapping Root in the front. Root opted for a review, but that was an unsuccessful one. Garry Ballance joins Bell. It is not even 10 overs and Aussies are already on a roll.
Root lbw b McKay 3 (23b)
================================================================
Over 5 || Score 19/1
Clint McKay began with the new ball and struck right in the first over. England lost their opener and skipper Alastair Cook right in the fourth delivery of the first over. The full length delivery by McKay was nicked off by Cook towards the keeper Brad Haddin who clearly did not miss the chance for the easy catch. Joe Root, at number three is now at the crease with Ian Bell. Nathan Coulter-Nile is sharing the new ball with McKay.
Cook c Haddin b McKay 4 (4b, 1x4)
================================================================
Toss: England won the toss and elected to bat
After the heavy Ashes defeat, England will look forward to at least seal the ODI series to their name, however, Australia high on confidence will leave no stone unturned to clinch this series as well.
Squads:
England: Alastair Cook (c), Ian Bell, Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wk), Ben Stokes, Tim Bresnan, Chris Jordan, Boyd Rankin
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin (wk), James Faulkner, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty
