« Back to article

Print this article

England managed 269 for six on a slow wicket

England made a winning start in the ICC Champions Trophy beating Australia by a convincing margin of 48 runs in the Group A match against Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Saturday..

England rallied after a middle-order collapse to reach 269 for six off their 50 overs. The hosts were looking comfortable on 168 for the loss of only captain Alastair Cook (30), but wickets tumbled on a slow surface in the middle overs.

Ian Bell top-scored with 91 off 115 balls while Jonathan Trott scored 43, but none of the other specialist batsmen made any impact.

Cook and Bell batted at a comfortable pace early on

James Faulkner was the pick of the bowlers with two for 48 off his 10 overs.

Cook tucked the first ball of the innings from Mitchell Starc comfortably to the square-leg boundary and the left-armer bowled only two overs before he was replaced by Clint McKay.

Mitchell Johnson, Australia's other left-arm fast bowler, generated more pace but Cook and Bell took the total to 54 without loss after 10 overs without any real problems.

Batting slowed after Cook's dismissal

Shane Watson made the breakthrough in the 12th over when he pushed a delivery across Cook, who edged a catch to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and was out for 30.

Neither Bell or Trott was able to impose themselves on the Australian bowlers and with their departure the batting fell apart before Bopara and Bresnan's late flurry.

Bopara-Bresnan in half-century stand

Joe Root went for 12, Eoin Morgan was bowled for eight, and Jos Buttler, England's most dangerous one-day batsman, made only one.

However, Ravi Bopara (46 not out) and Tim Bresnan (19 not out) ensured England reached a competitive total with an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 56 from 41 balls.

Broad strikes early

Australia, set 270 to win on a good batting pitch, gave a lacklustre performance and fell steadily behind the required run rate after taking the field without their injured captain Michael Clarke.

Shane Watson, their best one-day batsman, survived a hard chance to Cook off Stuart Broad but still made only 24 from 40 deliveries. His opening partner David Warner was out for nine and Phil Hughes was lbw to Joe Root for 30 trying to force the pace with an ill-judged pull shot.

Bailey hits half-century

Stand-in captain George Bailey was the top-scorer with 55 and his dismissal in the 40th over spelt the end of Australia's victory hopes.

With wickets falling from the other and the asking rate climbing up steadily, Bailey decided to attack off-spinner James Tredwell but he holed out to Joe Root at long-on.

Anderson is England's leading wicket-taker

James Anderson became England's leading one-day wicket taker when he dismissed Mitchell Marsh for five. It was his 235th wicket, putting him one ahead of Darren Gough.

Anderson produced a superb display with the ball, claiming three for 30 in 10 overs, while Tim Bresnan took two for 45.

"He's great bowler," England captain Alastair Cook told Sky Sports. "He just keeps getting better and better."

Australia's batting flops

James Faulkner hit a quickfire 54 from 42 balls but Australia could manage only 221 for nine in their 50 overs, to lose by 48 runs.