Former Royal's Heroics Help Aus to Series Win

Sep 16 2013

Shane Watson represented Hampshire in 2005

England v Australia
NatWest One Day International
Monday 16 September (2pm start)
The Ageas Bowl

Summary: Australia beat England by 49 runs
Australia: 298 all out (49.1 overs)
England: 249 all out (48 overs)
Scorecard

England:
Carberry, Pietersen, Wright, Root, Morgan, Bopara, Buttler, Stokes, Tredwell, Rankin, Jordan
Australia:
Hughes, Finch, Watson, Clarke, Bailey, Voges, Wade, Faulkner, Johnson, McKay, Ahmed

A magnificent hundred from Shane Watson (146) helped Australia win the NatWest One Day International Series with an impressive 49-run victory over England at The Ageas Bowl.

It was a 163-run partnership between two ex-Hampshire batsmen, Watson and Michael Clarke (75) which helped the tourists post 298 all out with Ben Stokes (5-61) taking his first five-fer in international cricket.    

Home favourite Michael Carberry hit 30 and Ravi Bopra (62) added a half-century in reply, but wickets fell at regular intervals as they were eventually dismissed for 249 – confirming the win for Australia.

The victory means Australia win the Series 2-1.

Despite a nervous start from debutant seamer Chris Jordan (3-51), it was his pace and bounce that was too much for opener Phil Hughes (2) early on as he handed Carberry a simple catch at cover to leave Australia 13-1.

With danger-man Aaron Finch (26) starting to build up a head of steam soon after, it looked to be convenient timing for a half an hour rain delay. And it was a delay which seamer Stokes took full advantage of on their return to the field. The Durham all-rounder dismissed Finch and then Matthew Wade (0) the very next ball to leave the tourists reeling at 48-3.

However, it was the highest fourth-wicket stand in an ODI at the ground which brought Australia right back into the game. Ex-Hants pair Watson and Clarke put on 163 runs together to move Australia past 200.

Despite Clarke departing to the impressive Jordan soon after, Watson continued to attack the spinners with James Tredwell (0-38) going for 38 off his four overs and Joe Root (1-58) conceding 28 runs from one over - the most in an over by an English bowler in an ODI.

However England did keep plugging away, none more than Stokes who dismissed Watson and Mitchel Johnson in quick succession to reach his maiden five-wicket haul for England. And then it was, for the second match in a row, a match where Australia failed to bat their allocated overs as they were dismissed for 298 with five balls remaining.

Despite The Ageas Bowl being a notoriously strong batting wicket, it was important for England to prevent early breakthroughs in their run-chase. But it was the tourists who forced a mistake from the England openers which left Kevin Pietersen (0) being run-out after facing just one ball.

And unfortunately for England, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.  An athletic piece of fielding from Ex-Hampshire player George Bailey to dismiss Luke Wright (0) was just one of the wickets to fall as the home side found themselves 103-5 at the half-way stage.

And despite fluent knocks from Ravi Bopara (62) and Jos Buttler (42) England were always behind the required run-rate with Mitchell Johnson (2-21) in particular impressing as they finished on 249 all out.