England crash to another ODI defeat by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood
Scorecard:	England v Australia
Player:	CJ Ferguson, MG Johnson, PD Collingwood
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 6th September 2009

 

The euphoria of winning the Ashes 2009 is looking at an early end as England has crashed to another ODI defeat and with it has possibly handed the momentum back to the Australian camp. Australia had batted first to score a challenging total of 249 in their allotted fifty overs. England in reply scored 210, as Australia won the game by a comfortable margin of 30 runs. Callum Ferguson once again top-scored with a well-paced 55 and Johnson wielded the long handle to push the Australian score to 249. For England Collingwood played a valiant knock to score 50 but then the target proved a bit too much for the English team.

 

Watson and Paine put on 62 for the opening wicket in 14.5 overs to put England on the defensive. Watson took time to settle in but once he got his eye in he looked set for a huge score. He played some powerful shots through the covers and just when a substantial score beckoned him, a leaping catch from Wright ended his tenure at the crease. Tim Paine fell soon afterwards when a skied flick off the deceptively lively Wright was safely held by Eoin Morgan. Wright then captured the prize wicket of star batsman Michael Clarke who going for the hook shot could only glove it to Prior. Cameron White and Ferguson put their head down to repair the innings as they added 69 runs for the fourth wicket. Medium-pacer Ravi Bopara struck first ball when White, on 42, trying to run him down to third man, got an edge which was well held by Prior.

 

When off-spinner Graeme Swann bowled Michael Hussey a tentative Hussey the scoreboard showed 155 for the loss of five wickets, with Australia in deep trouble. Ferguson's then brought about the calmness in the innings as he first put the innings back on track before finding the boundaries. Ferguson was finally cleaned up by Anderson and when Brett Lee was dismissed Australia looked like they would be settling for a below par total before Johnson took them closer to 250 with some powerful biffs.

 

England in reply would have being hoping for a sound start from the openers and once again they failed to deliver. For time being they looked like getting on top of the Australian bowlers, but once a shuffling Bopara was trapped before his stumps, the English batsmen lost their direction. Strauss was beaten by a ball that stopped on him and which he could only manage to present a return catch to Hauritz. Shah produced one comical delight to the game which was once again gripped in tension as he was involved in yet another run-out. Eoin Morgan was pinned lbw by Johnson and Luke Wright wafted outside off and was caught behind. Tim Bresnan getting an opportunity to prove that he is one with a future responded with a weak cut against Brett Lee to pour cold water over his chances.

 

Collingwood meanwhile fought hard to get the English team closer to the target before going hammer-tongs. One perplexing issue that will haunt many is the delay in taking the Batting Powerplay. It would have been wise had they taken it when Wright was at the crease but they left it too late. Swann swung wildly at a slower ball from Bracken while Sidebottom had no answer to a sharp inswinging yorker from Bracken. Collingwood was finally cleaned up Lee as Australia went two up in the seven match series.