SPORTS

PIX: Australia whip England after Head's unbeaten ton

September 20, 2024

Images from the first One-Day International between England and Australia, at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday.

IMAGE: Australia opener Travis Head celebrates his century in the first One-Day International against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

Travis Head scored a unbeaten 154 and Marnus Labuschagne contributed 77 as Australia successfully chased down a formidable 316-run target to beat England by seven wickets in the first of their five-match One Day International Series at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

 

Australia reached 317-3 with six overs to spare after bowling England out for 315 in 49.4 overs.

It was a 13th successive ODI win for last year’s World Cup winners, and sixth in a row over England, despite being forced to field a depleted line-up because of illness in their camp and injury.

IMAGE: Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne celebrate after completing a resounding victory for Australia. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

Head’s highest ODI score, coming off 129 balls with 20 fours and five sixes, was ably supported by Labuschagne, who earlier had also proven key in restricting England’s strong start to the contest.

England, who won the toss and chose to bat, saw Ben Duckett fall five runs short of his century while Will Jacks scored 62 runs off 56 balls in a brisk start.

IMAGE: England's Ben Duckett looks dejected as he walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket, caught and bowled by Marnus Labuschagne. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

The pair put on 120 for the second wicket and even after Jacks' dismissal England were well set to go on and compile an imposing target as they reached 213-2 in the 33rd over.

But as a desperate Australia looked to stem the runs, having seen debutant quick Ben Dwarshuis forced off after bowling four overs having strained a chest muscle, they turned to part-timer Labuschagne, who put the brakes on the home team.

IMAGE: Marnus Labuschagne celebrates taking the caught and bowled wicket of Ben Duckett. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

He dismissed Duckett with a slow leg break that sat up on the surface, deceiving the England opener who popped it up for an easy caught and bowled.

Labuschagne followed up his first ODI wicket in two years with two more, having England captain Harry Brook caught and bowled for 39, and going on to finish with figures of 3-39 in six overs.

IMAGE: Will Jacks hits a four during his 62 off 56 balls, which included 5 fours and 2 sixes. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

Spinner Adam Zampa, who had been expensive in his first three overs, returned to take 3-49 as England lost their last eight wickets for 102 runs in 17 overs and were bowled out two balls shy of 50 overs as Head, the eighth bowler Australia used, took two-in-two in the final over.

IMAGE: Adam Zampa, expensive in his first three overs, went on to finish with three wickets for 49 runs. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

But it was still a healthy total, helped by a cameo from 20-year-old debutant Jacob Bethell, who contributed a quick-fire 35 runs.

Australia lost captain Mitchell Marsh early on in their reply and when Steve Smith went at 96-2 in the 16th over, they looked in potential trouble.

IMAGE: Cameron Green takes the catch to dismiss Liam Livingstone, off the bowling of Adam Zampa. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

But Head kept battering the bowling and his unbeaten 148-run fourth wicket partnership with Labuschagne saw the tourists comfortably home.

The second ODI between the two countries is at Headingley in Leeds on Saturday.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Recommended by Rediff.com

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email