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Head steers Australia to seven-wicket win over England in 1st ODI

athletics19 September 2024 12:40| © AFP
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England against Australia © Getty Images

Travis Head struck a career-best 154 not out as injury-hit world champions Australia thrashed England by seven wickets in the first one-day international at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Australia, set 316 for victory, finished on 317 for three with six overs to spare as they went 1-0 up in a five-match series.

Marnus Labuschagne was 77 not out after adding an unbroken 148 with opening batsman Head in just under 18 overs.

Earlier, part-time legspinner Labuschagne took 3-39, including dismissing opener Ben Duckett for 95, as England were bowled out for 315.

England, on 201 for two off 30 overs, were set for a colossal total as Ben Duckett – in his first ODI as an opener – eyed a hundred on his Nottinghamshire home ground.

But the left-hander departed for 95 when caught and bowled by part-time legspinner Labuschagne, who also removed Harry Brook – out for 39 in his first innings as England captain – in similar fashion soon afterwards.

Labuschagne, the seventh bowler deployed by Australian captain Mitchell Marsh, finished with ODI-best figures of 3-39 as England lost their last six wickets for 59 runs.

First-choice legspinner 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, featuring seven fours and two sixes, in an unbroken partnership of 148 with fellow 30-year-old Head.

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

Three balls later Head, the hundred hero of Australia's World Cup final win over India last year, almost fell for six.

His slashing square-cut off Potts flew to deep point only for Brydon Carse, who had come in too far off the boundary rope at Brook's request, just failing to hold what would have been a spectacular leaping catch.

Head, taking a toll on both England's quicks and spinners, completed a run-a-ball fifty.

But star batsman Steve Smith, also looking in good touch, fell for 32, including three sixes, when chipping a return catch to spinner Liam Livingstone.

The untroubled Head completed a sixth century in 66 ODIs and went to exactly 150 by going down the pitch to launch Livingstone for a spectacular six over long-on.

Head then surpassed his previous highest ODI score of 152, against England at Melbourne two years ago, with the left-handed opener facing 129 balls, including 20 fours and five sixes, in total on Thursday.

The series continues at Headingley on Saturday.

ENGLAND: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Harry Brook (capt), Jamie Smith (wkt), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid

AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (capt), Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wkt), Matthew Short, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa

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