Morgan’s men totally dominate
ENGLAND smashed their own one-day record total with a scarcely believable 481-6 against Australia to seal victory in the series at Trent Bridge last night.
Eoin Morgan’s men passed the previous best for ODI cricket of 444-3, set against Pakistan on this ground two years ago.
Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow helped themselves to big centuries, while the captain weighed in with the quickest 50 ever scored in England colours.
In reply, Australia were unable to keep within touching distance of an ever escalating run rate.
Hales said: “Today is as good as it gets, both personally and for the team.
“To get a score like that on my home ground, in a series-clinching ground, is a special feeling.
“I’m not hiding away from my place being vulnerable at the moment, but it’s up to me to play as well as I can.”
The win by 242 runs, confirmed with the last ball of the 37th over, was both a record margin of victory by England and a record margin of defeat for Australia.
England hit 21 sixes, a number bettered only once in ODI history, and a record 62 boundaries. Jason Roy (82) and Bairstow (139) got England off to a flier at 159-0 inside 20 overs before the former was run out going for a second to D’Arcy Short’s rifle arm throw from the square leg boundary.
The breakthrough provided no respite. From the moment Hales entered the fray, the pace picked up if anything.
Eclipsed
Sixes seemed to mark most of the significant milestones. Roy brought up England’s 100 with one, Bairstow his own century with another.
Both men hit five but when Bairstow holed out at deep midwicket, Morgan eclipsed them both with six as he raced not only to the fastest 50, requiring 21 balls, but also overtook Ian Bell as England’s leading ODI run scorer.
Hales, Jos Buttler and Morgan were all out to Jye Richardson, who finished with 3-92. And while England’s bowling will cause more discussion ahead of next year’s home World Cup, scoreboard pressure told on Australia.
All of their top order got starts and while Short and Travis Head should kick themselves for soft dismissals, Marcus Stoinis was run out by a sharp throw from Bairstow and Shaun Marsh and Glenn Maxwell were caught going for the ropes.
Adil Rashid (4-47) and Moeen Ali (3-47) were again the pick of the bowlers, the former shading it with the quality of his victims.
The leg spinner produced a wellflighted delivery to despatch Aaron Finch, leaving Australia four down, and took a sharp caught and bowled to remove the last recognised batsman, Ashton Agar. BEN STOKES has been left out of the squad for the T20 games against Australia and India as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
SQUAD: Morgan (c), Ali, Bairstow, Ball, Buttler, S Curran, T Curran, Hales, Jordan, Plunkett, Rashid, Root, Roy, Willey. Australia won toss ENGLAND J Roy
J Bairstow 82 A Hales ...139 J Buttler 147 E Morgan 11 M Ali 67 J Root 11 D Willey 4 1 Extras 19 Total 6 wkts (50 overs) ........... Fall: 481 Bowling: AUSTRALIA D Short
T Head 15 S Marsh 51 M Stoinis 24 A Finch 44 G Maxwell 20 T Paine 19 A Agar 5 J Richardson 25 A Tye 14 B Stanlake 5 1 Extras 16 Total (37 overs) ....................... Fall: 239 Bowling: