The Royal & Sun Alliance County Ground, Bristol 10 June 2001 (50-over match)

Result: - Australia won by 5 wickets Scorecard

Toss: England (elected to bat)

Umpires: JH Hampshire and R Julian

 

England made two changes to their side from last week's game against Pakistan in the 3rd match in the Tiangular Series. Owais Shah (Middlesex) in place of the injured Michael Vaughan, and Robert Croft (Glamorgan) replaces Durham player Collingwood, a change many expected.

Australia on the other hand have made only one change to yesterday's emphatic win at Cardiff against Pakistan, Michael Bevan resting after a great knock and left hander Hayden comes in.

Brown (12) was the first man to go, caught behind off Glenn McGrath, the bowler once again showing the other Australian's how to bowl fast and tight in a great opening spell.

Enter Knight and Trescothick - the pair ripped the Australian's apart with magnificent ease, hitting boundary after boundary in an aggressive spell of batting. Both players scored half centuries and laid a great foundation for the
home side putting the fielding side under enormous pressure. Steve Waugh resorting to bring in Symonds as a fifth bowler was duly dispatched to all parts of the ground going for 24 runs in just 3 overs.

Mark Waugh came on and bowled superbly under great English pressure, bowling 8 overs unchanged for only 27 runs. Not one to be kept out of the game Shane Warne run out Trescothick for 67 which had included 8 fours and 2 sixes. After taking the score on to 189 Knight (84) was the next to go, superbly caught off Lee by Shane
Warne, diving to his left and so ended a great innings.

Alec Stewart fell to a terrible decision from the umpire, judged LBW for 25 once again off Lee, the ball going down the leg side. Shah and Hollioake the youngsters of the side did well, taking the home side to a respectable total of 267 off their 50 allotted overs and gave themselves a genuine chance of beating the World Champions.

Unlike at Cardiff, Australia struggled with a slower paced wicket in the early stages and once again lost Gilchrist early on.

Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting steadied the ship and played a wonderful variety of attacking and defensive shots until Waugh fell victim to Dominic Cork four runs short of a deserved half- century with the score on 101 runs.

Damien Martyn came in under pressure as the run rate required continued to climb in England's favour. Croft recalled to the side today in favour of Collingwood never looked comfortable and rarely posed any threat to the Australian batsmen and Stewart only allowed him 7 of his 10 overs. In one over, Martyn hit Croft straight back down the ground for a massive 6 as the crowd
at the back of the stands went scurrying to find the ball.

Ponting continued his rich vein of form and reached a well-deserved century that had included 9 4's and 2 6's, but soon after reaching his century he was run out with the score on 211.

Symonds entered and still no sign of Hayden (who had replaced Bevan). Yesterday's birthday boy scored a quick fire 23 which included two big 6's, but despite his best efforts, the run rate required was well over 8 at this point.

Harvey was preferred to Hayden and together with Steve Waugh guided Australia to a tight 5 wicket win with only 3 balls to spare. The penultimate over bowled by Hollioake had looked to be on course for the home side until his last ball, Harvey despatching him for a massive six and left Australia needing only 5 runs in the final over.

Ealham started with a dot ball and pressure was once again applied to the visitors. Steve Waugh who was on strike hit a great boundary, chipped just over square leg. Scores at this point were level and with four balls left,the game was won. Steve Waugh hit the final ball to the boundary and Australia had won their second game in the series to top the table from Pakistan in second
place.