Australia 280 for 8 (Smith 94, Lebuschgen 58, Marsh 50, Rashid 3-57) England 208 all out (Billings 71, Zampa 4-45, Starc 4-47)
The target looked much more difficult for England’s chase after just five balls until Starc took two wickets. Jason Roy’s struggles did not abate as he gloved the second ball down the leg-side then Starc took a quick out-swing to first beat Dawood Malan twice and then edged the off-stump with an unplayable delivery. gave
Milan wanted to play on the leg side with an open face but he had every right to feel positive after scoring a fine century in two days and the ball was made late and with pace to beat the edge. It was another strong response to Starc’s omission at the end of the T20 World Cup after Starc’s ugly delivery to remove Roy in Adelaide.
But Vince swung over the line at Hazlewood for the umpire’s call lbw, then the ever-relenting Zampa made decisive gains in the middle order, including Billings with 71, as he made nine. Claimed 3 for 0 off the ball and England lost by 52 runs by 7 runs. At times, the batting depth was not enough.
Smith and Lebuschagne put on 101 runs in 19 overs for the third wicket, then Smith and Marsh put on 90 runs for the fifth wicket as Rashid bowled out Australia with two wickets in two balls.
Australia’s openers got off to a brisk start before Moeen struck on his second ball when David Warner swept at square leg. Travis Head pulled Chris Woakes over midwicket after three overs to leave Australia at 43 for 2.
Liebeschen got off to a positive start as he left the pitch to Moeen and lofted it over wide mid-on and usually scored more freely than Smith who hit his first boundary off his 14th ball but He did not add another until the 65th over when he clubbed David Willey over. towards the leg.
Liebschen scored a clean fifty off 47 balls, the most fluent batting of the innings, and was furious with himself when he swept Rashid who moved to mid-off. Rashid struck again the next ball when Alex Carey played over the sweep and Billings was quick to remove Bells at Carey’s foot line.
The hat-trick delivery was misdirected into Marsh’s pads and the duo along with Smith rebuilt to give Australia a platform in the final 10 overs but were unable to fully capitalize.
Marcus Stoins made 13 off 14 balls before losing swing at Woakes and Marsh, back in place of the rested Cameron Greene who had returned to Perth before the Test summer, scored 58. A half-century on the ball, he couldn’t quite get ahead of the gears. However, in the end, they had more than enough as Australia’s newest ODI captains claimed their first series.
