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Melbourne: Led by Aaron Finch's superb hundred, Australia eased to a fine 6-wicket win over England in the first ODI, take a 1-0 lead in five match series.
Finch carved himself a slice of history tonight when he became the first home-town batsman to score a one-day international century at the MCG as he starred in Australia’s ruthlessly efficient chase of 270 to comfortably win the opening match of the five-game Carlton Mid-Strength ODI Series.
The 27-year-old, who earned a reputation as an all-out attack weapon the Twenty20 format, rode his luck and a wave of local sentiment to score the second hundred of his 17-match ODI career and his first in Australia.
He was dismissed for 121, his second-highest ODI score following the 148 he made against Scotland last September, caught at deep third man when Australia had the game in their keeping with 33 runs required from more than 10 overs.
In the end, they reached the total that initially appeared challenging but was incrementally dwarfed by England’s poor bowling, catching and fielding, with six wickets and 26 balls to spare as Michael Clarke (43), George Bailey ( 17no) and Glenn Maxwell (8no) guided their team home.
Powerfully built with a low centre of gravity and enormous forearms – rather like a right-handed Rod Marsh – Finch combined with David Warner to anchor Australia’s chase with an opening partnership of 163, a record for Australia in one-day internationals against England.
It smashed the previous mark of 118 set by Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden at the SCG in 2002-03
He batted for more than three hours and struck 12 boundaries in his 128-ball innings although, in contrast to his fence-clearing reputation, did not land a blow beyond the boundary rope.
His innings also placed an emphatic exclamation point at the end of suggestions that England’s wretched results during the Ashes would be turned around with a change of formats and a number of fresh faces.
Indeed, the low point of a tour that has seen new depths plumbed on a weekly basis might well have arrived with a contentious umpiring decision early in Australia’s innings.
Having opted to bat first on a slowish pitch, a patient 79 from Gary Ballance and whirlwind 50 from Eoin Morgan helped England to 7 for 269.
Ballance, who came to the crease when England were struggling at 2 for 22, held the innings together before accelerating towards the end when quick runs were needed.
He shared a 83-run partnership with Morgan, who blasted his 20th ODI half-century off just 47 balls with five fours and a towering six.
England had earlier won the toss, with skipper Alastair Cook having no hesitation in batting first on a flat MCG wicket.
But Cook's miserable tour of Australia continued when he fell for four, edging Clint McKay to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
McKay struck again to remove the equally out of form Joe Root, who was trapped in front leg before for three with the score on 22.
Ian Bell (41) tried to launch a rescue mission, hitting two fours and a six off Glenn Maxwell, but with the score on 62/2 he went for another heave over mid-wicket and was clean bowled by left arm spinner Xavier Doherty for 41.
That wicket brought Morgan to the crease and the Irishman played superbly, showing a confidence missing from the English Test players over the Ashes series.
However, he undid all his good work when, immediately after reaching his 50, he tried to hit Maxwell over cover, only to pick out Nathan Coulter-Nile to leave England at 145/4.
Some big hitting late in the innings from Jos Buttler (34) and Tim Bresnan (16) allowed England to reach a competitive total.
Teams:
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (Capt.), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin (wk), James Faulkner, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty
England: Alastair Cook (Capt.), Ian Bell, Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wk), Ben Stokes, Tim Bresnan, Chris Jordan, Boyd Rankin
Brief scores
England 7 for 269 (Ballance 79, Morgan 50, McKay 3-44)
Australia 4 for 270 (Finch 121, Warner 65)
Result Australia won by 6 wickets
MOM Aaron Finch (Australia)
