Australia ‘knuckle down’ to defeat England by 59 runs in first ODI

Australia's Matthew Wade plays a shot during the first one day international against England. Glyn Kirk / AFP

Matthew Wade’s unbeaten 71 laid the platform for World Cup-holders Australia’s 59-run win over England in the first day/night one-day international in Southampton on Thursday.

Australia, who won the toss, lost four wickets for 29 runs to be 193 for six in the 37th over.

But wicket-keeper Wade and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (40 not out), neither of whom played in the World Cup final, turned the tide.

Their unbroken stand of 112 in 13 overs saw Australia to 305 for six after leg-spinner Adil Rashid had taken four for 59.

Left-hander Wade, who took nine balls to score his first run, faced 50 deliveries in total including 12 fours as he atoned for his part in the run-out of Shane Watson.

England, who suffered a 111-run thrashing by Australia at the World Cup, threatened at times during their chase but were eventually dismissed for 246 with 27 balls left in their innings when last man Steven Finn was bowled by Pat Cummins — one of four Australia bowlers who took two wickets apiece.

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“Me and Mitchell just knuckled down and took our innings deep,” said Wade, who also held three catches as Australia beat England for the 10th time in 11 ODIs.

England captain Eoin Morgan insisted side should have succeeded in their run-chase.

“We lost it in the 10 or 15 overs in the middle of the chase where Australia bowled pretty well” he said.

“We got off to a fantastic start and when we get off to a start like that we should be chasing down 305.”

Morgan added: “I was pleased with Adil Rashid, he has come on in leaps and bounds. For him to come out and hold his nerve, I was very impressed.”

After Australia captain Steven Smith opted to bat, openers Joe Burns (44) and David Warner (59) made a solid start.

Warner had a reprieve on 18 when Chris Woakes failed to hold a hard-hit caught and bowled chance.

England, who had won both the preceding Ashes Test series an Monday’s lone Twenty20 against Australia in Cardiff, started to choke off the supply of runs.

Burns fell when he hit a Rashid full-toss back to the bowler to end a first-wicket stand of 76.

Warner, unusually, was scoring at under a run-a-ball and went when, beaten in the flight by Rashid, the left-hander edged an intended drive to Woakes at short third man.

George Bailey and Smith both hit sixes off Rashid.

But Smith, one ball after clearing the rope, hit a Rashid full-toss to Ben Stokes at mid-wicket and was out for 44.

Rashid struck again when the 27-year-old Yorkshireman had Bailey lbw for 23 with a quicker ball that skidded on.

When Watson, responding to a poor call by Wade, was run out, Australia were 193 for six.

But Wade and Marsh added 93 runs in the last 10 overs, with their stand a seventh-wicket record for Australia against England in ODIs.

Jason Roy, driving the ball stylishly, and Alex Hales, put on 70 for England’s first wicket before Hales carelessly holed out off Marsh.

But South Africa-born Roy went on to complete a maiden fifty at this level, off 49 balls, including 10 fours.

Roy’s innings ended when, backing away, he sliced off-spinner Maxwell to point on 67.

Taylor made a near run-a-ball 49 before, advancing down the pitch to medium-pacer Watson — who played on this ground for Hampshire — he was bowled.

England then lost three wickets for no runs in four balls — including Morgan for 38 — with Nathan Coulter-Nile taking two in two, before Rashid prevented the hat-trick.

The five-match series continues at Lord’s on Saturday.

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