Shane Watson's magnificent century seals series victory for Australia

Shane Watson's magnificent century seals series victory for Australia

• Australia 298; England 249
• Australia win by 49 runs and win series 2-1

After a torrid tour Australia ended on a high note, winning the final one-day international of the summer by 49 runs at a freezing Rose Bowl. Asked to make 299 to win, England lost Kevin Pietersen in the first over of their reply to another calamitous run out and had reached 102 for five before a sixth-wicket partnership of 92 from 79 balls between Ravi Bopara and Jos Buttler revived their hopes. But Buttler went for 42 from 37 balls and Bopara for 62 from 66, in the space of seven balls during the final powerplay to leave them 197 for seven, from which there was no comeback: they were all out for 249. Australia thus take the series 2-1 and move ahead of England to second place behind India in the ICC rankings.

The England bowlers had weathered a mauling at the hands of Shane Watson and Michael Clarke and came back strongly to leave them a chance of winning the match. For a while, as Watson and Clarke were adding 163 from 136 balls for the fourth wicket, Australia looked on course for a mammoth total. So it was to England's credit that not only were Australia pegged back to such an extent that one exceptional over aside, the boundary became a virtual no-go area during the final 10 overs, and they were actually bowled out for 298 with five overs of the innings remaining.

For this turn-round England have to thank the three front-line pace bowlers. Chris Jordan was handed a cap by Nasser Hussain before play after Steve Finn withdrew with a side strain, and he marked his debut by hitting 90mph, despite bowling to some extent into a tricky biffing wind, and taking three for 51.

Then there was Boyd Rankin who managed the final wicket of the innings alone but conceded only 26 runs from 9.1 overs: so impressive has he been during the past few weeks he can all but consider himself in the Ashes touring party, probably at the expense of Chris Tremlett.

Beyond that, though, came Ben Stokes, a bowler who is learning his trade on the hoof with England. His aggression and skiddy pace saw him take two early wickets in two balls immediately after a single rain delay to let a squally shower pass, and then returning later to take three more wickets for 14 in his final four overs: five for 61 was an excellent return for his persistence and competitive instinct. One day, if he can advance his batting to the standard required for a No6 – there is a long way to go – he will surely make the Test allrounder England have been seeking since the retirement of Andrew Flintoff.

Watson, with his eighth ODI century, and Clarke, who had shrugged off his back condition to play in the final game and make 75, were majestic on what was a beautiful pitch with pace, some good even bounce and nothing like the extravagant sideways movement that marked the last game in Cardiff.

Watson had arrived at the crease after Jordan had claimed his first wicket by inducing a mistimed pull from Phil Hughes, and was not dismissed until the 45th over when he gave Jos Buttler one of five victims behind the stumps, by which time he had faced 107 balls and hit 12 fours and 6 sixes in 143 runs.

Against England's two spinners, James Tredwell and Joe Root, he was brutal, clouting the former as dismissively as he had Simon Kerrigan in the Oval Test match, and choosing his moment to launch Root, often into the wind and over the longest boundary, for 26 of the 28 runs, including three vast sixes, that came from what proved his final over.

While Watson bludgeoned his way through the legside (scarcely a run did he score in front of square on the offside, which is odd for such a strong driver of the ball) Clarke sliced and diced, content to let Watson do the real damage until gradually picking up the pace later on until by the time he was out he was all but a run a ball. The only chance he offered came shortly before his dismissal when he pulverised Stokes like a shell head high to Rankin at mid off who could only parry the ball as it dipped wickedly on him, and was unable to cling on to the rebound.

England v Australia limited-overs internationals 2013
Cricket
England cricket team
Australia cricket team
Australia sport
Mike Selvey

Show commentsOpen link