Australia master England again
Monday, 20 January 2014
SYDNEY, Jan 19 (AFP): Australia eased past England for a convincing seven-wicket victory Sunday that wrapped up the one-day series with two matches still to play.
The hosts put the brakes on England at the Sydney Cricket Ground, restricting the tourists to 243-9, and then smashed 244 with 10 overs to spare.
Opener David Warner set the tone blasting 71 runs off 70 balls before miscuing Ben Stokes for a simple chest-height catch to Ian Bell.
Shaun Marsh equalled that score in a patiently built innings and hit the winning runs.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin crashed an unbeaten 35 off 33 balls after skipper Michael Clarke went for 34 to a fine delivery from seamer Ravi Bopara.
Alastair Cook won the toss and chose to bat, but despite some promising starts no one could go on to a big score.
Irish-born Eoin Morgan made the highest total with 54 while tailender Tim Bresnan scored 41 off 29 balls.
After a 5-0 Ashes whitewash and demoralising losses in the first two ODIs in Melbourne last Sunday and Brisbane Friday, England still have to face Australia in Perth on Friday and Adelaide next Sunday.
Australia 3 for 244 (Marsh 71*, Warner 71) beat England 9 for 243 (Morgan 54, Coulter-Nile 3-47) by 7 wickets.