Roy record inspires England to victory

OPENER Jason Roy recorded the highest-ever one-day international score by an England player as the tourists finally had something to celebrate with a five-wicket win over Australia yesterday.

After their wretched Ashes campaign, in which they were beaten 4-0, the tourists chased down a hefty Australian total at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to win with seven balls to spare in the opener of the five-match ODI series.

Set 305 to win, Roy’s daring 180 helped England make 308 for five.

The successful chase was also a record for a one-day international at the MCG, eclipsing Australia’s 297 for four against England in 2011, and vindicated captain Eoin Mor- gan’s decision to bowl first.

Having been an onlooker for the Test series, Roy was an unlikely hero. But he rode his luck to produce a record in limited-overs cricket for England and also a new benchmark for a batsman at the MCG in a one-day international.

The swashbuckling righthander lived dangerously throughout his innings, charging along at better than a run a ball and reaching his half-century off only 32 balls.

He survived a run-out scare and an lbw decision which was overturned upon review, and lofted several balls just out of the reach of frustrated Australian fielders on the way to his fifth ODI century.

Roy wasted little time making the most of that piece of fortune, driving the next ball just over a leaping Aaron Finch on the long-on boundary for six.

He reached his hundred just moments later from 92 balls, with nine fours and three sixes.

He finally fell to Starc after skying one into the outfield, having faced 151 balls -- hitting 16 fours and five sixes.

Aaron Finch’s ninth one-day international century was the cornerstone of the Australian total of 304 for eight.

Finch’s 107 was backed by half-centuries for Mitchell Marsh (50) and Marcus Stoinis (60) as Australia recovered from a shaky start in which the tourists finally managed to get bogeyman Steve Smith cheaply. – AFP