4TH ODI, CHESTER-LE-STREET LET’S HEAR IT FOR ROY

Ton-up Jase is England’s ace with bat

TON-UP Jason Roy popped the cork on the champagne moment in another win over Australia but it was not with the bat

– and there will be no record of it in the scorebook.

The England opener was again sensational in his main job, scoring 101 from 83 balls as he broke another record with Jonny Bairstow at the top of the order.

They put on 174 for the first wicket, their fifth century stand as openers in 16 innings, beating the record of four set by Marcus Trescothick and Nick Knight in 43 attempts.

But despite his second hundred in three innings, with an 82 sandwiched between, it was Roy’s awareness in the field that lit up the Emirates Riverside in a six-wicket win with 32 balls to spare.

The scorebook will forever read Marsh ct Overton b Willey 101. That does not tell the story of how Roy leapt to his left to catch the ball on the long on boundary and then threw it 20 yards to debutant Craig Overton to pouch and complete the dismissal.

It was the sort of catch which has become a regular feature of white-ball cricket, but as far as double acts go this was one of the more impressive.

It came during a late collapse by Australia, who lost four wickets for 14 runs just at a time when they wanted to pull away and set a challenging target.

Instead their total of 310-8 was seriously lacking on a good surface that demanded bold strokeplay but was instead saw conservatism and timidity from a team that has lost all confidence.

Aaron Finch hit his sixth hundred against England in one-day cricket, but he and his team-mates batted with the handbrake on, seemingly fearful of what might happen if they took risks.

England’s bowlers did a decent job with Mark Wood putting in his finest performance for some time to take 2-49.

But it is with the bat where England are on fire. Roy’s hundred was their 38th in 66 games. Their previous best over the same period was 22, which is why this is their best batting line-up ever.

THAT’S FOR OPENERS Jason Roy celebrates his century, watched by batting partner Jonny Bairstow