England sent packing by destructive Aussies
Shane Watson hit an incendiary 136 that featured 10 fours and seven sixes
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Friday, 02, Oct 2009 09:28
By Huw Davies.
A toothless England were on the receiving end of an annihilation by a professional Australian outfit, who emerged victors by a whopping nine wickets with more than eight overs to spare.
Shane Watson and England's nemesis Ricky Ponting put on 252 without losing their wickets, which is unsurprisingly the highest ever partnership for an Australian pair in a one-day international. They had to wait to bat, though, after an invasion of flying termites incredibly threatened to lead to the match being cancelled.
Defending a modest total of 257 on an excellent batting wicket, England were cock-a-hoop when they claimed the scalp of Tim Paine in just the second over.
But the next 40 overs provided painful viewing for English fans, as Ponting and Watson put on an epic - and chanceless - stand. The partnership started steadily, then became increasingly destructive as Australia neared the total. England looked unimaginative and never threatened to take another wicket throughout the innings.
The end came in a hurry, with the last 51 runs being scored from just 29 balls. Having bowled seven overs for just 27 runs earlier in the innings, Paul Collingwood saw one over disappear for 23 as Watson cut loose. Australia reached the total with 8.1 overs remaining.
Watson's astonishing 136 not out came from 132 balls and featured 17 boundaries, including seven massive sixes. Yet Ponting's innings was even classier, and though it only totalled 111, from 115 balls, it offered the spectators a masterclass in the art of batting. Watson deservedly won the man of the match award for also taking 2-35 with the ball.
Despite being pummelled in the field, it was England's batting that let them down once again. The top order were a shadow of the batsmen who carted South Africa around the park, with the top six amassing just 98 runs between them, thanks largely to 34 from Collingwood and 36 from Joe Denly. England were 101-6 at one point.
It took a breathtaking partnership of 107 between England's numbers 7 and 8, Luke Wright and Tim Bresnan. Wright hit 48, including the biggest six of the tournament, but it was Bresnan who carried on to make a brilliant 80. The Yorkshireman was an unlikely hero after being drafted in at the last minute for an unfit Stuart Broad.
England were plagued with misfortune before the game, with Ryan Sidebottom succumbing to a viral infection on the night before the match and Matthew Prior also missing out. Replacement wicketkeeper Steven Davies made an unhappy debut, being bowled for just four before watching his side crash to defeat.
But there were no excuses for England, who looked timid with bat and ball and deservedly crashed to defeat at the feet of an unbelievable Australian partnership.