Prime Minister’s 11 set a good total for England
England are playing the Prime Minister’s 11 in a warm-up game at Canberra before the start of the Twenty20 and one-day international (ODI) series against Australia. The home team has set a target of 255 for the English team in the allotted 43 overs.
Prime Minister’s 11 Captain Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bat first. The match was interrupted by rain and the start was also delayed due to wet conditions. Due to that, the match was reduced to 43 overs per innings.
The home team opened the innings with Paine and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729. The pair gave a very good start to their team by setting a solid 75-run foundation. Khawaja was the first man to be dismissed after scoring 22 runs.
This must have been very frustrating for Khawaja, as he failed to capitalise on yet another start against the English team. He got starts to his innings in the Sydney Test as well, but was unable to make the most of them.
Paine’s wicket fell soon after the dismissal of Khawaja. The newly appointed Twenty20 vice-captain for Australia scored a solid half century. He was out for 50 and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Alex-Keath-c986 was the next man to follow for 15.
The home team was struggling at that stage with 108 runs for the loss of three wickets. Callum Ferguson and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Daniel-Christian-c1308 then put together a 59-run stand to steady the innings. A few quick wickets fell after that partnership, as Ferguson got out for
39 and Christian departed after making 53.
It was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s veteran fast bowler, Brett Lee, who guided the team to more than 250 runs with his unbeaten knock of 26 runs off just 18 balls.
Most of the English bowlers were expensive, but the stand-out performer for the visitors was Michael Yardy. The left-arm spinner took three wickets in his nine overs and gave away just 33 runs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajmal-Shahzad-c42489 also took three wickets, but was a touch expensive
giving away 61 runs in his allotted overs.
The Prime Minister’s 11 will be pleased with the total they have got. Although wickets kept falling at regular intervals, which may have cost them 15-25 more runs, they will still fancy their chances. Returning pacer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lee-c72382 will be hoping to give a strong
performance with the ball just like he did with the bat.
Although the target is a stiff one, England has a strong enough batting lineup to chase down the runs, but they will be made to work hard.
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