England beat Australia in 3rd One Day International to win series
England wrapped up the 5 match one day series against Australia by winning the 3rd ODI at Old Trafford by 1 wicket, making it 3 in a row. Australia, winners of 3 back to back world cups have been 2nd best to a strengthened England team who seem to have finally found the formula for success.
Led by a brilliant innings of 87 runs by the captain, England got home with just 1 wicket in hand. The win will go a long way towards wiping away the memories of the 6-1 drubbing by the Aussies last September.
England did pretty much everything right at Old Trafford; Strauss won the toss and chose to bowl on a surface that was expected to offer some assistance to the bowlers. Australia though did well to make a solid start by putting on 75 for the first wicket. Captain, Ricky Ponting was once against disappointed as it was 64 from Watson and 44 from Paine at the top of the order which gave any respectability to an otherwise unimpressive Australian innings. Five of their batsmen did not even manage to get into double figures. Swann once again was on fire for England claiming 4 wickets, and Anderson got 3.
In reply things did not begin ideally for the hosts as Kieswetter was dismissed on the first delivery he faced in the first over by Tait, and it looked like it was not going to be so easy for England to chase down the less then modest target.
Pietersen, who after his man of the tournament award in T-20 world cup has been quiet, gave good support to Strauss. Both put on 51 for the 2nd wicket. Pietersen scored 25 from 36 balls with 5 boundaries before being caught and bowled by Tait who was determined to prove his worth after making a comeback in the one day side.
Collingwood walked in next to join his captain; both displayed immense patience and maturity, making sure that they do not lose any more wickets and put on 76 for the 3rd wicket in almost 17 overs.
The partnership was finally broken when Collingwood was cleaned up by left arm quickie Bollinger, the T-20 captain scored 40 from 61 balls with a single boundary and a six.
Eoin Morgan came and he was once again expected to stay there to finish off the game. He started well in his typical style nudging and fiddling ones and twos, both batsmen knew the required rate was not very challenging so they did not rush.
Both the left handers put on 57 for the 4th wicket and victory looked to be in striking distance for the hosts. Morgan, this time, could not repeat his heroics and was dismissed for only 27 caught by Ponting off the bowling of leg spinner Smith. Morgan scored just 2 boundaries.
It was all down to the captain, from then, but he unfortunately could not see his side home and nicked one to the keeper after scoring 87 good runs from 121 balls with 8 boundaries.
The match shifted in Australia’s favour as Luke Wright was soon sent back by Smith for a duck. Nerves started to show as 7 runs later Yardy was caught behind off the bowling of Tait, Yardy scored just 8 runs from 10 balls.
England had gone from 185 for 3 to 197 for 7. Now with just 16 required from 5 overs and 3 wickets in hand, the match became interesting and Australia smelling blood went all out on attack.
With 10 runs needed from 3 overs Bollinger knocked over Swann with a brilliant slower one, the game was surely on. Bollinger bowled one of the best overs he would ever bowl, after knocking over Swann on the first ball a searing Yorker on the final ball of the over cleaned up Stuart Broad and finished a maiden over with 2 wickets.
It all came down to the final over with 3 runs needed and only 1 wicket in hand, Bresnan, after smashing Harris for a boundary in the last over, edged one down to 3rd man for a memorable win.
England got home eventually with just 1 wicket, and wrapped up the 5 match series 3 nil.
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