ENGLAND SUMMON GREATER INTENSITY FOR OZ WHITEWASH
Chester- Le- Street, June 22: England captain Eoin Morgan hopes his side can maintain their “new level of intensity” after moving to within sight of a first 5- 0 one- day international series whitewash of Australia.
Morgan’s men, the number one- ranked side in this format, beat Australia by six wickets at Chester- le- Street on Thursday.
Set an ODI ground record of 311 to win, England finished on 314/ 4 with more than five overs to spare after Jason Roy ( 101) hit his second hundred of the series. Following their century partnership during England’s 481 for six — the highest total in men’s ODI cricket — at Nottingham on Tuesday, Roy and Jonny Bairstow ( 79) again overwhelmed a novice Australia attack while putting on 174 for the first wicket.
There was a brief wobble when both openers fell in quick succession, but Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 54 put the result beyond doubt. This latest victory left England 4- 0 up in the five- match series against world champions Australia heading into Sunday’s finale at Old Trafford.
It was further confirmation of England’s dramatically altered approach to ODIs after a humiliating
first- round exit at the 2015 World Cup. — AFP
Scores: Australia 310/ 8 ( A. Finch 100, S. Marsh 101, D Willey 4/ 43) lost to England 314/ 4 in 44.4 overs ( J. Roy 101, J. Bairstow 79, A. Agar 2/ 48).