Eng Aus ODI 4: Australia Fight Back with Thumping Win

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Sreelata YellamrazuJul 1 2010

by Vinay Anand

Having set a stiff target for 291 to win, the Australians were always ahead of the eight ball right from the outset in the fourth ODI of the NatWest Series. England started in circumspect fashion as the Australian bowlers managed to hold their line and length. Chasing that score was never going to be easy but as India has displayed 3 years back, anything is chase able on a flat Brit Oval wicket.

ryan harris

Ryan Harris, Australia’s highest wicket taker in one day internationals over the summer, struck immediately as he got one to nip back in which went through Craig Kieswetter’s bat and pad providing Australia early inroads.

Kevin Pietersen once again promised with a couple of stunning boundaries before he walked across his stumps and was wrapped on the pads by Harris. Pietersen looked furious after the dismissal but it was a very brave decision to give and a right one at that.

England’s most experienced campaigner walked out with a huge task ahead of him. Paul Collingwood as usual looked unfazed by the situation and continued in typical fashion.

The Australian skipper, Ricky Ponting, who had set up the innings with a brilliant 92, wrung in the changes. He knew Andrew Strauss and Collingwood could play their natural game and set it up for Eoin Morgan and company to take it from there. He brought on Shaun Tait to strike and Strauss nicked one to Tim Paine.

In came Eoin Morgan who is fast gaining reputation around the world and is becoming one of the most fearsome hitters in the middle order. His fearless batting clubbed along with his unorthodoxy makes him a huge challenge to bowl to. Steven Smith, whose innings had given Australia the much needed impetus, got a lucky break as Collingwood was given lbw to a ball which hit him outside the line of off stump while attempting a shot. It was disheartening to see it coming from an experienced umpire in Aleem Dar once again reiterating the importance of technology in sport.

Morgan continued his fearless attack on the Australians as he pummeled a couple of sixes of hope in a situation where had he been dismissed, the critics would be out with their daggers saying “that wasn’t needed at this stage”. Having seen Morgan slowly getting into his stride, Ponting brought on his bowler of the evening, Ryan Harris. Morgan flayed at one outside the off stump and was caught behind by Paine.

All this while Michael Yardy, England’s new number six, played steadily as he coasted to his first half century in one day international cricket. Barring Tim Bresnan, the England lower order did not show much fight as they were bundled out for 212 giving Harris his third five-for in his short international career.

The Australians were not at their best but with the middle order firing and with Tait, who seems to have added the zeal and the firepower to this attack, back, they look good to give England another stern test at the home of cricket later this week. As far as England are concerned they will be smarting at the fact that they missed out an opportunity to whitewash the old enemy. Nevertheless, the series is already in the bag. An England win will reestablish England's confidence in their cricketers over their football counterparts. An Australian win, on the other hand, will give them confidence going into the series against Pakistan.

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