Head and Warner tons help Oz crush England

MELBOURNE: Australia, fuelled by hundreds from Travis Head and David Warner, crushed England by 221 runs in the third ODI to sweep the series in front of largely empty stands at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Head and Warner forged a 269-run stand, the highest opening partnership at the MCG, as Australia amassed 355/5, the highest total at the venue, after two rain interruptions had reduced the game into a 48-overs-a-side affair. When they returned, spinner Adam

Zampa (4/31) led England’s rout as the visitors, chasing a revised target of 364 under the Duckworth-lewis method, were bundled out for 142 in 31.4 overs suffering their heaviest defeat in the 50-overs format. On a day when batting records tumbled at the MCG, only 10,406 fans were present at the stadium which can host 100,000. “It’s been fantastic, all three games,” Pat Cummins, his first series in charge of the Australia ODI squad, said. Brief scores: Australia 355/5 in 48 overs (T Head 152, D Warner 106; O Stone 4/85) vs England 142 in 31.4 overs (J Roy 33; A Zampa 4/31). Australia won by 221 runs on DLS method.