Watson steers Aussies to victory
A superb solo effort by Shane Watson with the bat enabled Australia
to overcome a sloppy fielding effort and beat England in the opening
one-day international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
One of the few Australians to emerge with his reputation intact after
the Ashes disaster, Watson’s brilliant unbeaten 161 enabled the home
side to chase down England’s imposing total of 294 from 49.4 overs with
five balls to spare.
Fittingly, the right-hander hit the winning runs from the first ball
of the last over, lofting Ajmal Shahzad over long-on for six to take
Australia to 297-4.
He and Brad Haddin laid the foundation for the win with a 110-run
partnership, although another scratchy innings by captain Michael Clarke
threatened to derail the chase.
Clarke put on 103 with Watson for the second wicket, but again looked
sadly out of form and often earned ironic cheers from the crowd when he
managed to score as he eked out 36 from 57 balls.
His only four came when he miscued for a single, and two fielding
errors led to three overthrows.
However, Watson was not going to let his good work go unrewarded
again and held the innings together in the latter overs as the tension
rose.
He reached his fifth one-day century from 110 balls and went on to
post a career-best innings, facing 150 deliveries in total and hitting
12 fours and four sixes.
The solo effort of Watson, dropped on 44 by Jonathan Trott from the
bowling of Chris Tremlett at mid-on, spared Australian blushes after a
hapless performance in the field. Kevin Pietersen led the way for
England, who won the toss and elected to bat, with 78 from 75 balls
including three sixes.
It was England’s highest total in a one-day international against
Australia in Australia, and also their highest at the MCG.
Just over a month out from their World Cup defence, the Australians
offered up dropped catches, missed stumpings, botched run outs and
wickets from no-balls, as well as 14 wides. The rot set in early for the
home side when Steve Smith and Brett Lee somehow got in each other’s way
at the non-striker’s end to mess up an elementary run out to give opener
Steve Davies (42) a life before he had scored.
With England captain Andrew Strauss on 17, Lee thought he had the
left-hander caught on the boundary, only for a review called by umpire
Bruce Oxenford to show it was a clear no-ball.
To rub salt into the wound Strauss, who went on to make 63 from 65
balls, smashed the subsequent free hit for four.
Watson then grassed Davies at short cover when he was on 18 from the
bowling of Lee before wicketkeeper Brad Haddin squandered the first of
three missed stumpings when Davies was on 24 from the bowling of David
Hussey.
MELBOURNE, Australia AFP |