Eng Aus ODI 2 Full Time: Bowling sets up win for England

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Sreelata YellamrazuJun 25 2010

by Vinay Anand

After being set a modest 240 for victory, the English batsmen led by skipper, Andrew Strauss, coasted to a four wicket victory with a little under five overs to spare at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff in the second ODI of the Natwest Series between England and Australia. The Australian bowlers with the exception of Doug Bollinger and Nathan Hauritz (to an extent) looked out of sorts in their attempt to defend their score.

andrew strauss 11

Strauss began with a flier as he was given a couple of freebies from Clint McKay who overstepped on a number of occasions. Strauss who is not known for his attacking stroke play showed what he is capable of when he smashed McKay straight down the ground to bring up only his 11th six in over a 100 one day internationals. The way Strauss goes in the ODI fixtures in the next month or two could go a long way into deciding his World Cup future.

The Australians needed early wickets from the word go and they got one from Bollinger in the 3rd over with Craig Kieswetter driving at one outside the off stump only to be caught by wicket keeper Tim Paine.

England sensation, Kevin Pietersen, walked in to a warm reception. He played his trademark flicks, pulls and drives en route to his thirty-three runs. The partnership between Strauss and Pietersen was threatening to take the game away from the visitors before Ponting took a snorter which got rid of Pietersen. The run flow had been stemmed as traditionalists Paul Collingwood and Strauss were at the crease. The Aussies were successful in tying them down. The frustration finally got to Strauss as he for the 6th time in his career fell to off spinner Nathan Hauritz.

England were still a good 130 runs away from their target and one thought this was the moment. If the Australians could break this partnership, they could get stuck into the lower middle order of the home team. However, that was not to be as Collingwood (48) and Morgan (52) joined forces and added eight-three crucial runs to the total. The Australians being Australians still stuck in there and managed to cause a few tremors in the England dressing room before Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan settled the matter.

This new look England team had once again trampled over the Australians. The mood and the feel around the camp, the attitude of nonchalance but not complacent is one to admire.

There was lot to be liked about Ricky Ponting’s captaincy. His delaying of the bowling power play, the way he handled his bowlers, the field set up has to be lauded. Ponting once said he relishes the idea of captaining a young Australian side but on occasions like these,one wonder if he wished he had Glenn McGrath or Brett Lee taming the old foes like they used to. Unfortunately for Ponting, he just doesn’t have the ammunition in his bowling line up. McKay is far too ordinary (despite his record) to be counted amongst the ranks and Hazelwood is still very young to count. With Ryan Harris out with a groin injury, it had to be the Australian batsmen that stood up and set a commanding total but Australia’s top order batting (barring Shane Watson and Cameron White) left a lot to be desired.

Looking forward to this Sunday, the Australians will have their work cut out. It has to be stated in light of what has happened that Paine at the top of the order is perhaps a misfit. James Hopes has opened earlier for Australia and has done pretty well. His talent and potential is not being fully harnessed and he has a lot more to offer with his batting than at number 8. It would be a move worth trying.

Ponting himself and Michael Hussey along with him have not converted the starts they have got and really need to come into their own if the Australians have to stand any chance of a comeback into this series. As far as the England team is concerned, they will be pretty happy with the proceedings and if they continue in this vein of form, nothing should stop them from attaining an unassailable lead over the Australians in the five match ODI series.

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