Australia vs England Tri-series Game 1: Easy three-wicket win for Aussies

David Warner fired a 115-ball 127 as Australia comfortably defeated England by three wickets and also earned the bonus point in the first One-day International of the Tri-series that also involves India.

Needing 235 to win, Warner almost remained till the end playing a great knock that included 18 boundaries.

Steven Smith (37), Shane Watson (16) and Brad Haddin (16) were the other contributors. 

Earlier, Eoin Morgan scored a brilliant 121 as England managed to reach 234 all out in 47.5 overs.

The visitors' choice to bat first went horribly wrong when Mitchell Starc removed Ian Bell and James Taylor for no score.

Moeen Ali (22) and Ravi Bopara made good starts but lost their wickets at crucial junctures. Morgan ensured he kept his focus intact as his innings meant England reached a challenging total. He was given company by Joe Buttler (28) and Chris Jordan (18).

For Aussies, Starc claimed four wickets while James Faulkner picked three.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Haddin scores some quick runs before he is run out. But his three boundaries has almost earned Australia the bonus point. Aus 233-7 in 39.4 overs.

Brad Haddin run out 16 (8b 3x4 0x6)

Warner's bang bang innings comes to an end but not before Australia is just a step away from clinching the match and the bonus point. Aus 227-6 in 38.4 overs.

David Warner c Bell b Woakes 127 (115b 18x4 0x6) 

That's unlucky for Maxwell as he has to return after been given out for caught behind. Hotspot shows nothing from his bat. That's Woakes third wicket. Aus 200-5 in 36.5 overs.

George Maxwell c Buttler b Woakes 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

George Bailey c Buttler b Woakes 10 (25b 1x4 0x6) 

Australia need to finish off the match in 40 overs if they were to earn the bonus point. Aus need 42 from 90 balls and the same score in 30 balls for the bonus. Aus 193-3 in 35 overs.

Warner reaches a superb century in style as he notches it up in only 96 balls. His innings contains 14 boundaries with no sixes. 

Smith steps out to hit Moeen over the covers but misses it completely to be bowled. Aus 158-3 in 28 overs.

Steven Smith b Ali 37 (47b 2x4 1x6)

Warner on 77 and Smith on 29 as Australia now need only 95 runs from 150 balls. Aus 140-2 in 25 overs.

A fine half century from Warner. He did miss a few big hits initially but look well settled at the moment. Eng 88-2 in 17 overs.

Australia are on a steady path. England will need wickets if they were to any impact on the matc. Eng 85-2 in 16 overs.

Watson attempts a pull and doesn't get it right at all. A fine well-judged catch taken by Woakes. Aus 7102 in 12.4 overs.

Shane Watson c Woakes b Jordan 16 (20b 2x4 0x6)  

Australia in great position with Warner batting on 33 while Watson is on 6. They still need 180 runs from 240 balls. Aus 55-1 in 10 overs.

England draw first blood as Finch plays on a Woakes delivery. Aus 33-1 in 6.2 overs.

Aaron Finch b Woakes 15 (18b 3x4 0x6)

Smooth sailing for Australia with openers mixing caution with aggression. Aus 24-0 in 5 overs.

David Warner and Aaron Finch open for the Aussies while Woakes starts for England. Aus 6-0 in 1 over.

ENGLAND INNINGS

Eoin Morgan scored a brilliant 121 as England managed to reach 234 all out in 47.5 overs.

The visitors' choice to bat first went horribly wrong when Mitchell Starc removed Ian Bell and James Taylor for no score.

Moeen Ali (22) and Ravi Bopara made good starts but lost their wickets at crucial junctures. Morgan ensured he kept his focus intact as his innings meant England reached a challenging total. He was given company by Joe Buttler (28) and Chris Jordan (18).

For Aussies, Starc claimed four wickets while James Faulkner picked three.

That's a beauty from Starc as he removes Finn the very next ball to claim his fourth wicket. Eng 234 all out in 47.5 overs.

Steven Finn b Starc 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) 

End of a great knock as Morgan departs. That was Maxwell again taking the fourth catch for the day. Morgan has put England in a great position after a disappointing start. Eng 234-9 in 47.4 overs.

Eoin Morgan c Maxwell b Starc 121 (136b 11x4 3x6)

Jordan does his part before his pull shot goes straight to Maxwell for his third catch of the match. Eng 224-8 in 47 overs.

Chris Jordan c Maxwell b Faulkner 18 (21b 1x4 0x6)

A superb knock from Morgan as he gets his 100 off 127 balls including nine boundaries and two sixes. Eng 203-7 in 45 overs.

Woakes is gone offering a simple catch to Smith midwicket. He is not happy with that shot. Eng 168-7 in 40.2 overs.

Chris Woakes c Smith b Maxwell 8 (13b 0x4 0x6)

Faulkner finally ends the partnership to pick up his second wicket. Buttler finds Warner at sweeper cover as he drives it uppish.

Jos Buttler c Warner b Faulkner 28 (60b 0x4 0x6)

Morgan gets his half century in style lofting a six over long off. His innings comes off 88 deliveries consisting of four boundaries and a six. Eng 135-5 in 34 overs.

Morgan and Butler share an important half century partnership coming off 97 balls.

England are 114-5 in 30 overs. Morgan batting on 43 while Buttler on 21.

England enter the three digit mark. It's been an amazing bowling performance from the Aussies but Morgan is the big hope for England. Eng 101-5 in 25 overs.

Butler playing the perfect second fiddle to Morgan who is on 29. This partnership is very important for England. Eng 85-5 in 20 overs.

Doherty strikes in his first over as Bopara offers a straight catch to Maxwell again. This time at point. Eng 69-5 in 15.3 overs.

Ravi Bopara c Maxwell b Doherty 13 (18b 1x4 0x6) 

Partnership between Morgan and Bopara reaches 28 as England slowly look to get back to terms after the early disaster. Eng 61-4 in 13 overs. 

That was totally uncalled for as Moeen Ali offers a simple catch to Maxwell attempting to take the aerial route. Eng 33-4 in 8.3 overs.

Moeen Ali c Maxwell b Faulkner 22 (21b 2x4 1x6)

Moeen Ali reaches 22 as he revives England innings. They need a big partnership here to post a competitive total. Eng 32-3 in 8 overs.

Nothing going right for the England team as another batsman succumbs to some exceptional bowling. This time it's Cummins to pick the wicket of Root as Watson takes a comfortable catch at the slips. Eng 12-3 in 3.4 overs.

James Root c Watson b Cummins 5 (15b 1x4 0x6)

Starc is bowling brilliantly as he grabs another wicket. He's bowling at the stumps and reaping rewards. That's big trouble for England as Taylor walks back after being lbw. Eng 0-2 in .3 over.

James Taylor lbw b Starc 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Mitchell Starc starts off with a wicket as he traps Bell in front. That's a great start for hosts Australia. Aus 0-1 in 0.1 over.

Ian Bell lbw b Starc 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

England have won the toss and chose to bat. Looks to be a nice wicket to bat and look for a big score.

PLAYING XI:

ENGLAND: Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, James Taylor, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, JosButtler, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn

AUSTRALIA: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Shane Watson, Steven Smith, George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty

Anderson looked fit in his return to the team in their 216-run hammering of a local side in Canberra on Monday, but sat out Wednesday's win over the Prime Minister's XI.

Morgan said the decision was made to rest their spearhead to give him the best possible chance to play in Friday's tri-series opener.

"It was more managing his workload coming back from injury," Morgan told reporters.

"We decided that he wouldn't be able to play three games in a week and obviously the most important game is tomorrow.

"So in order for him to be fit for selection, we needed to up his workload in the nets. And if he had have played yesterday he wouldn't have pulled up that well."

Anderson was put through a full practice session Thursday with Morgan saying "we'll see how he pulls up tomorrow morning".

He added that Anderson was the only injury concern heading into the one-day international.

"Everybody else is, to my knowledge, at the moment fit for selection."

Morgan praised Ian Bell's 187-run knock against the Prime Minister's XI, the highest innings by an England batsman in a competitive 50-over match, and said it epitomised the ruthlessness his side needed to succeed.

Their first priority was to beat India and Australia in the tri-series as a confidence-booster heading into next month's World Cup.

"It'll be nice to be sitting here at the end of this series with some silverware and very confident in where we're going as a side," Morgan said.

"I know throughout this series it might throw up a couple of things because Australia can be a difficult place to tour, a difficult place to adapt to conditions, but I certainly think that we're one of the sides that finds it a lot easier to adapt.

"They are conditions that suit our game and we proved that a bit yesterday.

"Mindset and method wise, we're in a good place - particularly with our batting."

 

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