Agence France Presse
Southampton, Sept 4: Matthew Wade’s unbeaten 71 (50b, 12×4) laid the platform for World Cup-holders Australia’s 59-run win over England in the first ODI here Thursday.
Australia, who won the toss, lost four wickets for 29 runs to be 193 for six in the 37th over. But wicket-keeper Wade and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (40 n o, 34b, 2×4, 1×6) turned the tide.
Their unbroken stand of 112 in 13 overs saw Australia to 305 for six after leg-spinner Adil Rashid had taken four for 59.
England threatened at times during their chase but were eventually dismissed for 246 with 27 balls left in their innings.
“Me and Mitchell just knuckled down and took our innings deep,” said Wade, who also held three catches as Australia beat England for the 10th time in 11 ODIs.
After Australia captain Steven Smith opted to bat, openers Joe Burns (44, 54b, 3×4, 1×6) and David Warner (59, 67b, 6×4) made a solid start.
Warner had a reprieve on 18 when Chris Woakes failed to hold a hard-hit caught and bowled chance.
Burns fell when he hit a Rashid full-toss back to the bowler to end a first-wicket stand of 76. Warner, unusually, was scoring at under a run-a-ball and went when, beaten in the flight by Rashid, the left-hander edged an intended drive to Woakes at short third man.
George Bailey and Smith both hit sixes off Rashid. But Smith, one ball after clearing the rope, hit a Rashid full-toss to Ben Stokes at mid-wicket and was out for 44 (54b, 3×4, 1×6).
Rashid struck again when the he had Bailey lbw for 23 with a quicker ball that skidded on.
When Watson, responding to a poor call by Wade, was run out, Australia were 193 for six.
But Wade and Marsh added 93 runs in the last 10 overs, with their stand a seventh-wicket record for Australia against England in ODIs.
Jason Roy (67, 64b, 11×4), driving the ball stylishly, and Alex Hales, put on 70 for England’s first wicket before Hales carelessly holed out off Marsh.
But Roy went on to complete a maiden fifty at this level. His innings ended when, backing away, he sliced off-spinner Glenn Maxwell to point.
Taylor made 49 (51b, 4×4, 1×6) before, advancing down the pitch to medium-pacer Watson (2/39) to get knocked over. England then lost three wickets for no runs in four balls including Morgan for 38 — with Nathan Coulter-Nile taking two in two (2/39), before Rashid prevented the hat-trick.
Brief Scores
Australia 305 for 6 (Matthew Wade 71 n o, David Warner 59; Adil Rashid 4/59) beat England 246 (Jason Roy 67; Shane Watson 2/39, Nathan Coulter-Nile 2/39) by 59 runs.