Bopara sets up easy win for England
London, July 2: Ravi Bopara starred with both bat and ball as England coasted to a six-wicket win over Australia with 26 balls to spare in the second oneday international (ODI) at The Oval here on Sunday.
England saw Bopara topscore with 82 in a total of 252 for four after taking one for 16 with five overs of his medium-pace as Australia were restricted to 251 for seven. Man-of-the-match Bopara, run out by Brett Lee with England just two runs shy of victory, faced 85 balls with eight fours.
England’s win gave them a 2-0 lead in this five-match series after Friday’s 15-run victory at Lord’s. But victory was far from certain when, two balls after Australia captain Michael Clarke bowled Ian Bell for 75, the left-arm spinner appealed for lbw against Eoin Morgan, still then on nought.
Umpire Richard Illingworth raised his finger but Morgan called for a review. Eventually, third umpire Aleem Dar told
SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA: S. Watson c Finn b Swann 66, D. Warner c Bell b Finn 10, P. Forrest c Kieswetter b Broad 12, M. Clarke c Kieswetter b Bopara 10, G. Bailey b Bresnan 65, D. Hussey run out 29, M. Wade c Broad b Bresnan 6, B. Lee n.o. 20, M. Johnson n.o. 8. Extras (lb15, w8, nb2) 25. Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) 251. FoW: 1-15, 2-66, 3-101, 4-128, 5206, 6-222, 7-223. Bowling: Finn 90-36-1; Dernbach 10-1-59-0; Bresnan 8-0-50-2; Broad 10-0-48-1; Bopara 5-0-16-1; Swann 8-0-27-1. ENGLAND: A. Cook lbw b McKay 18, I. Bell b Clarke 75, J. Trott b Watson 17, R. Bopara run out 82, E. Morgan n.o. 43, C. Kieswetter n.o. 0. Extras (lb4, w9, nb4) 17. Total (4 wkts in 45.4 overs) 252. FoW: 140, 2-81, 3-171, 4-250. Bowling: Lee 10-0-58-0; Johnson 7-0-43-0; McKay 10-1-42-1; Doherty 7.4-0-410 (1w); Watson 6-0-34-1; Hussey 30-17-0; Clarke 2-0-13-1. Illingworth to reverse his decision on the basis of a ‘Hotspot’ replay that indicated a faint edge.
England were still 171 for three and not 171 for four and Morgan, pressed on to 43 not out, having helped Bopara add 79 at better than a run-a-ball for the fourth wicket. — AFP