NOTTINGHAM: Travis Head’s superb career-best 154 not out saw depleted world champions Australia to a seven-wicket win over England in the first One-day International here at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Australia, set 316 for victory, finished on 317-3 with six overs to spare as they went 1-0 up in a five-match series to make it 13 ODI wins in a row against all opponents.

Earlier, Marnus Labuschagne was the unlikely hero with the ball as Australia fought back after losing the toss.

England, on 201-2 off 30 overs, were set for a colossal total as Ben Duckett eyed a hundred on his home ground.

But Duckett departed for 95 when caught and bowled by Labuschagne, who also removed Harry Brook — out for 39 in his first innings as England captain — in similar fashion soon afterwards.

Labuschagne returned ODI-best figures of 3-39 as England, succumbing to spin, lost their last six wickets for 59 runs.

First-choice leg-spinner Adam Zampa marked his 100th ODI with 3-49 from his full 10 overs.

Labuschagne then completed a fine all-round display by making 77 not out off 61 balls in an unbroken stand of 148 with Head.

But the outcome might have been different had Head been caught early in his innings.

Australia lost Marsh early when he holed out off Matthew Potts.

Three balls later Head almost fell in single figures. His slashing square-cut off Potts flew to deep point only for Brydon Carse just failing to hold what would have been a spectacular leaping catch.

Opener Head came through to completing a sixth century in 66 ODIs. He went to exactly 150 by launching Liam Livingstone for a six over long-on, with the spinner’s nine overs costing 75 runs.

Head then surpassed his previous highest ODI score of 152, with the left-hander striking 20 fours and five sixes, in total.

After Harry Brook won the toss, both Duckett and Will Jacks completed brisk fifties.

But Zampa struck when Jacks (62) holed out to cover to end a partnership of 120 with Duckett.

Duckett pressed on before chipping Labuschagne’s fourth delivery back to the bowler as a 91-ball innings, including 11 fours, ended tamely.

And when Brook fell the same way, England were 232-4 off 35 overs.

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND:

P. Salt b Dwarshuis17

B. Duckett c and b L’schagne95

W. Jacks c Smith b Zampa62

H. Brook c and b L’schagne39

J. Smith c sub b Short23

L. L’stone c Green b Zampa13

J. Bethell c L’schagne b Head35

B. Carse c Green b Zampa2

J. Archer c sub b L’schagne4

M. Potts not out11

A. Rashid c L’schagne b Head0

EXTRAS (LB-5, NB-1, W-8)14

TOTAL (all out, 49.4 overs)315

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-48 (Salt), 2-168 (Jacks), 3-213 (Duckett), 4-232 (Brook), 5-256 (Smith), 6-272 (Livingstone), 7-278 (Carse), 8-288 (Archer), 9-315 (Bethell)

BOWLING: Hardie 6-0-27-0; Dwarshuis 4-0-18-1; Abbott 5-0-50-0 (1nb, 2w); Short 10-0-68-1 (2w); Green 4-0-25-0 (2w); Zampa 10-1-49-3; Labuschagne 6-0-39-3 (1w); Head 4.4-0-34-2 (1w)

AUSTRALIA:

M. Marsh c Carse b Potts10

T. Head not out154

S. Smith c and b L’stone32

C. Green b Bethell32

M. L’schagne not out77

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, W-6)12

TOTAL (for 3 wkts, 44 overs)317

DID NOT BAT: A. Carey, M. Short, A. Hardie, S. Abbott, B. Dwarshuis, A. Zampa

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-20 (Marsh), 2-96 (Smith), 3-169 (Green)

BOWLING: Archer 6-0-53-0 (3w); Potts 5-0-33-1 (1w); Carse 5-0-42-0; Jacks 6-0-29-0; Rashid 10-0-59-0; Livingstone 9-0-75-1 (1w); Bethell 3-0-20-1 (1w)

RESULT: Australia won by seven wickets.

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Travis Head (Australia)

SERIES: Australia lead five-match series 1-0.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2024