All-round Australia finally register win with a thumping victory

After being put in to bat again, Australia registered their highest score of 290 in this series thanks to half-centuries from Ponting and Clarke and then followed it up by an exceptional bowling performance riding on Harris’ five-for to earn a 78-run win.

England did much better in the Quick Start overs today, restricting Australia to 38/1, followed by 32/0 in the Bowling Powerplay. Watson once again departed after getting a start but just when it looked all over the same and a collapse was on the cards, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke staged a terrific stand of 155 in 154 balls for the third wicket, giving the Aussies a chance to get to 300. Ponting’s dismissal in the first delivery of the Batting Powerplay and Clarke’s slow scoring in the Extreme Performance Overs allowed the English bowlers to come back but Australia still managed 77/3 in 10 overs, of which, just 35/1 came in the Batting Powerplay. Ricky Ponting went past 13,000 ODI runs and made 92 in 93 balls with 10 fours, earning a Batting Momentum of 128 while his deputy Clarke was stranded on 99 from 106 balls, with 7 fours, with a Batting Momentum of 132. It was an off-day for the English bowlers and Stuart Broad was the best bowler, with 1/46 in 10 overs, earning a Bowling Efficiency of 65.                                                                   

  England were not too perturbed with the score and came out all guns blazing scoring 52/1 in the Quick Start Overs but lost too many wickets too quickly and made just 19/2 in the Bowling Powerplay and were reduced to 90/4 in the 20th over. It was similar to the first ODI with Eoin Morgan at the crease with a different partner this time, in Michael Yardy and the pair revived England with a 50-run stand for the fifth wicket but just when the Poms were getting back into the chase, Morgan was dismissed followed by Wright and England were set back again. Yardy and Bresnan added 48 for the seventh wicket but with the required rate climbing the roof, it was always going to be difficult and England finally capitulated for 212. Michale Yardy top-scored with 57 in 63 balls with 5 fours, earning a Batting Momentum of 74, as the top failed today. Australia’s pace bowling found their zing today as Ryan Harris was the best bowler with 5/32 in 8.4 overs, finishing with a Bowling Efficiency of 406.

Australia overwhelmed England with an Overall Castrol Index of 182 to 123. Australia gained most of their points from their Batting Momentum to England’s Bowling Efficiency though England did better in the Quick Start Overs. RYAN HARRIS was named the MAN-OF-THE-MATCH for his match-winning 5/32 in his 8.4 overs, finishing with an overall Castrol Index of 354. England now lead the series 3-1 and the fifth game and final of the 5-match ODI series is at Lord’s, on Saturday, the 3rd of July, 2010 at 0945 GMT.