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Australia prevail in a tense encounter
by CricketArchive Staff Reporter


Ground:Kennington Oval, Kennington
Scorecard:England v Australia
Player:CJ Ferguson, LJ Wright, AU Rashid
Event:Australia in British Isles 2009

DateLine: 4th September 2009

 

The thrills and excitement of the Ashes 2009 spilled into the subsequent one dayer as Australia held their nerve to squeeze through and win a tense encounter by just four runs. England mounted a valiant fightback in the last ten overs but in the end the total was just beyond the English team to reach. For most part of the game the affair was a quiet one but the encounter sprung to life in the final fifteen overs when England upped the ante.

 

Australia batted first and scored a challenging 260 in their fifty overs and England in reply scored 256 in their fifty overs. Australia lead the seven match ODI series by 1-0. Strauss had won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch that had a tinge off green.

 

England struck in the third over when Tim Paine was run out for nought going for an non-existent run and he was found short by Collingwood's direct hit. But from 11 for one, Shane Watson (46) and White rebuilt the innings with a fifty stand off 56 balls. Collingwood broke the second-wicket stand when Watson tried to turn the ball leg side but instead got a leading edge and gave a gentle return catch. the pair added 82 for the second wicket to put the innings back on track.

 

White was run out when he failed to beat Graeme Swann's throw from deep square leg to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. Ferguson was then fortunate not to be lbw to Rashid while still on nought. Clarke and Ferguson put together a stand of 79 but off a relatively sedate 109 balls. Clarke, trying to force the pace, exited for 45 when he sliced a drive off Collingwood to Owais Shah at cover, having faced 72 balls with just three boundaries to leave Australia 190 for four in the 43rd over. Hussey provided support to Ferguson as Australia added 47 in five overs for the fifth wicket. But his cameo came to an end when Sidebottom yorked him for 20 from 15 balls.

 

England in reply never got their tempo up as the openers, Strauss and Bopara played the waiting game. The duo were happy to pat the straight balls down the ground and leave the wide ones alone. Only when the bowlers erred slightly in line did they attempt to put them away. Lee was impressive as he worked up serious pace in his opening spell. He troubled both the openers consistently and finally removed Strauss who went for a loose shot outside his off stump to give a simple catch to White at slip. Bopara and Prior then set about to rebuild the innings as they saw off the speed merchants. Just when the pair looked set, Prior had a brain-freeze and he played a silly looking reverse sweep to be well caught at short third man as England score read 83 for 2 and with it they lost the momentum.

 

Shah desperate to show off his batting credentials as he missed out in the Tests brought a sense of urgency to the crease as he and Bopara were on look-out for those short singles. Bopara was stumped off Hauritz and the task began to look bigger for the English team. Shah departed for a well made 40 when he trampled onto his stumps to be declared hit-wicket. Collingwood and Broad departed quickly and that brought the new exciting talented Adil Rashid to the crease. Wright and Rashid kept the English hopes alive with a spirited and quick fire partnership of 46 in 5.1 overs as they displayed a brilliant counterattacking batsman ship. Once Wright fell, Rashid tried valiantly but in the end it was just too much for him.

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