Published: Feb 14, 2015, 08:04 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 14, 2015, 08:04 PM (IST)
Australia are off and running in their opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. They beat arch-rivals England by 111 runs after posting 342 for nine, courtesy a magnificent century by Aaron Finch. England have only themselves to blame for this heavy loss and need to make a strong comeback in the games to follow. Pramod Ananth lists the highlights of the match.
Aaron Finch dropped in the second over: England will look back at this moment and wonder if this was the moment that cost them the game. Aaron Finch was batting on two when he smashed the ball towards mid-wicket, where Chris Woakes was positioned. Woakes could not hold on to the ball that was going over his head and despite getting both hands to it, couldn’t hold on to it. Finch went on to make a superb century, which dented England’s hopes of winning the match. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
Australia’s brisk start: Australia managed to get to 50 in the seventh over due to some hard hitting by Finch and David Warner. Finch, after having a lucky escape in the second over of the innings approached the innings all guns blazing. Warner gave him good support at the other hand and made a vital 18-ball 22 before he was bowled by Stuart Broad to give England their first wicket. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
England strike back with three quick wickets: Following David Warner’s dismissal, Shane Watson went off the very first ball that he faced and was soon followed by Steven Smith (five). Australia were in a spot of bother at 70 for three and another wicket at that stage would have been disastrous for the co-hosts.
Aaron finch’s sixth ODI century: Finch registered his sixth century in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and his first in World Cup to get Australia to a mammoth total. Finch brought up his century off 102 deliveries and was rampant through the innings. He was eventually dismissed for a 128-ball 135, the highest World Cup score on Australian soil.
George Bailey’s return to form: Australia would have been delighted to have their skipper George Bailey back in form after he had scored just one fifty in eight innings preceding this one. He is one of the key players in the middle-order and has the ability to get those big scores when needed. He made 55 from 69 balls and built a solid partnership with Finch for the fourth wicket, when Australia were in a bit of trouble at 70 for three.
George Bailey-Aaron Finch partnership: Bailey and Finch put on 146 for the fourth wicket that got Australia from a spot of bother to a commanding position. Bailey was initially cautious but once he got his eye in, he too was looking aggressive. Finch was already on an attacking mode at the other end, but Bailey’s calmness was very crucial in this excellent partnership. You can say he played a captain’s knock today.
Glenn Maxwell’s late onslaught: Glenn Maxwell is slowly turning out to be one of the hard-hitting batsmen in the world today. His 53-run stand with Mitchell Marsh and a partnership of 59 for the sixth and seventh respectively was important to ensure that Australia went well past 300. Maxwell scored 11 fours on his way to a 40-ball 66.
Steven Finn’s hat-trick and fifer: It was a forgettable day for the England bowlers. They conceded close to 350 runs and didn’t bowl as well as they could’ve especially while having the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad in their ranks. Steven Finn had an equally bad day, but picked up three wickets off the last three deliveries of the Australian innings and ensured England went into the break with some momentum. There was something to cheer about for England at the end of a long, hard day.
Mitchell Marsh’s all-round show: Mitchell Marsh perhaps had the best match of his career so far. He made a brisk 23 with the bat and followed it up with figures of five for 33 with the ball. Everyone knew that he was talented and we got to catch a glimpse of it too today.
England get off to a bad start: England lost wickets at regular intervals and found themselves six down at the 25-over mark. Their openers did not get them off to a good start and their middle-order did not fire too and were destined for a huge loss.
Eoin Morgan registers another duck: England skipper Eoin Morgan got another duck today. Since scoring 121 in the opening match of the tri-series, Morgan has just scored two runs from four innings including three ducks along the way. This certainly does not qualify as “leading from the front”. Morgan must get his act together before the next round of matches.
James Taylor-Chris Woakes partnership– England were surely out of the match when Jos Buttler was dismissed in the 22nd over with England reeling at 92 for six. Woakes (37) stitched a 92-run stand with Taylor and it gave England something to cheer about in an otherwise bleak batting display.
James Taylor remains unbeaten on 98: James Taylor came in at No. 6 today as Gary Ballance was pushed up to No.3. The youngster missed out on his maiden ODI ton after James Anderson was run out under controversial circumstances. Taylor played really well in his 90-ball knock and deserved a century.
England bowled out in controversial circumstances: The last wicket of Anderson was a controversial one. Taylor was rapped on the pads by Josh Hazlewood and Anderson at the other end came charging down for a single, before which Taylor had signalled for a review as he was given out by the on field umpire. Maxwell, fielding at mid-on, hit the wicket at the non-striker’s end to find Anderson short of his crease. Taylor argued with the umpire claiming that since he had asked for a review, it should automatically be a dead ball and any cricketing incident after that will not count. But the umpires eventually decided to give Anderson out, which left Taylor stranded on 98.
Australia win by a huge margin: Australia managed to kick-start their campaign with a huge win and the icing on the cake was the fact that they defeated their arch-rivals England. Australia will look to carry the momentum on for the upcoming matches as well.
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
