Morgan sets up England win over Australia in the first ODI
England beat Australia by 15 runs to win the first one-day international at Lord's here on Friday and so take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 30, 2012 01:28 am IST
England beat Australia by 15 runs to win the first one-day international at Lord's here on Friday and so take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Eoin Morgan's rapid 89 not out laid the platform for England's win over arch-rivals Australia in the first one-day international at Lord's here on Friday.
Victory kept alive England's hopes of replacing their oldest foes as the world's top-ranked one-day side and of topping the standings in all three formats, although they need to sweep this campaign 5-0 to knock Australia off their 50-over perch.
England were struggling when left-hander Morgan, on his Middlesex home ground, came in at 121 for three.
But the former Ireland international, the man-of-the-match, broke the shackles with a 63-ball innings featuring four sixes and five fours to propel England to 272 for five.
He shared stands of 68 with Jonathan Trott (54) and 83 with Craig Kieswetter, out for 25 off the last ball of the innings after Australia had won the toss.
"Conditions were very tough, I thought 277 was par, but we bowled really well," Morgan told the BBC.
"It's been a big turnaround for me since the start of the year and I'm very pleased," said Morgan, currently out of the Test side.
"It was comfortable at the end, the wicket was getting better, but the guys bowled really well."
Australia, chasing 273 for victory, saw captain Michael Clarke top-score with 61 after opener David Warner had made 56.
But England's bowlers were largely on top, with their four seamers all taking two wickets apiece.
Australia opener Shane Watson fell for just 12 when he was caught behind off Middlesex fast bowler Steven Finn, although England had to review Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar's original not out decision.
Left-hander Warner and George Bailey settled into a partnership of 76, but that stand ended when Bailey played on to James Anderson.
Warner struck a six and six fours in 61 balls but was unable to go on to a match-winning innings as he edged Anderson and wicket-keeper Kieswetter, diving to his left, held the first of four catches.
At that stage, both Clarke and David Hussey were on nought.
The run-rate slowed and Hussey made just 13 before a Finn bouncer hit his helmet and deflected onto the stumps to leave Australia 132 for four.
Clarke and wicket-keeper Matthew Wade got Australia back into the game with a stand of 57 at better than a run-a-ball.
Wade pulled Anderson for six and Clarke drove off-spinner Graeme Swann high over the top to seal a 59-ball fifty.
However, a dreadful mix-up saw Wade run out as he sacrificed his wicket on behalf of his skipper.
Tim Bresnan then captured the prize wicket of Clarke after the batsman swung across a low full toss and was plumb lbw.
Stuart Broad then took two wickets for five runs in six balls to leave Australia 231 for nine.
But Brett Lee and last man Xavier Doherty held on to leave Australia with a target of 21 off the last over, from Finn.
However, Finn kept his nerve and conceded just five runs as England beat Australia in a one-day international at Lord's for the first time since 1997.
Earlier Ian Bell, who in his two previous innings during a 2-0 series win over the West Indies had made a hundred and a fifty, was the first England wicket to fall when lbw to Lee for 41.
Soon afterwards teenage fast bowler Pat Cummins took his first wicket against England when he had home captain Alastair Cook caught behind for 40.
Trott, missed on 38 when 19-year-old Cummins dropped a return catch, completed a 65-ball fifty before effectively yorking himself when bowled by left-arm spinner Doherty.
However, Morgan struck successive Lee deliveries for six over long-on and made it three in as many balls faced with a pull off medium-pacer Watson.
The series continues across London at The Oval on Sunday.