NatWest Series, 2001, Old Trafford, Manchester (day/night) 14 June 2001 (50-over match)

Result: Australia won by 125 runs - Scorecard

Toss: Australia (elected to bat)

Umpires: JW Holder and JW Lloyds

 

Where do England go now? Completely and utterly embarrassed by a rampant Australian team, England had no answer to a far superior outfit in both batting and fielding.

Steve Waugh won his first toss of the tour today and under overcast conditions at Old Trafford he decided Australia would bat first.

Team News: England made one change, Collingwood being preferred to Mark Ealham. Australia made a number of changes, Mark Waugh was rested, Michael Bevan and Jason Gillespie (after injury) coming back in place of Brett Lee.

Some tight bowling at the start of the Australian innings, including Caddick taking Hayden's wicket with his 4th ball saw the visitors struggle with the conditions at Old Trafford.

By the 9th over, the Australian's were reeling at 3 for 27, Caddick and Gough taking the wickets, Gilchrist and Ponting back in the dressing room. Ten minutes later, the heavens opened and play was suspended for over 40 minutes (although no play was lost). When play resumed, Bevan and Waugh settled down to play a mixture of attractive and aggressive strokes to balance the score and the English bowlers seemed to loose a little direction. With the score seven runs short of the 100 mark, Bevan was temptedto nick the ball and was caught behind off Mullally.

Martyn entered and together with Steve Waugh, who by now was playing a subdued role, took the score past the 150 mark. Steve Waugh reached another international half century (his 43rd in international cricket) before falling victim of a doubtful leg before decision by the umpire for 64 and the score on 5 for 161.

With the fall of this wicket, the English bowling improved, no more so than Ben Hollioake who completed his allocation of 10 overs for 30 runs. By the time the rain came down to close the Australian innings two overs early, Martyn had completed his half century (his 9th in international cricket) and Mullally had taken another two quick wickets, Australia closing their innings on 7 for 208.

The total had looked far to low before the rain came down, but with the target total in the hands of the Duckworth - Lewis method, anything is possible and Australia may gain from the early finish.

With 6 of their overs lost to the rain and overcast conditions, England were set 212 runs to win off 44 overs. McGrath and Gillespie opened the bowling and immediately England were on the defensive due to some quick and tight bowling from the Australian pace attack, Gillespie the quicker of the two bowling well over 90 mph.

The two continued to bowl unchanged until the 17th over, quite a feat for Gillespie who was back in international cricket after a niggling hamstring injury, however by that time both openers had departed and Gillespie had been on a hat trick. Knight was the first to go, edging a loose shot to Gilchrist off McGrath, the score on 25.

Shane Warne was brought into the attack and with the 5th ball of his first over, tempted Hollioake down the wicket and was stumped by Adam Gilchrist off a sharply turning ball. In an attempt to quicken the over rate, Symonds was brought on the opposite end to ensure 25 overs were bowled before the chance of a rain delay could come and spoil the party.

Gillespie bounced the ball in short and Stewart playing a half hearted pull shot skied the ball to mid off and was caught by Bevan. Vaughan fell to the next ball, clean bowled by Gillespie, a corker of a delivery that had Vaughan beaten all ends up, the Australian bowler was on a hat trick. England in deep trouble at 3 for 32. Shah was the next to go, beaten for pace by Gillespie and the youngster edging the ball to Ricky Ponting at third slip for 10.

McGrath not to be outdone, changed his angle of attack to Trescothick and with his first ball around the wicket, bowled the England opener for 15, England had crumbled to 5 for 40 with no addition to the score since Shah's dismissal. After bowling 9 overs each, McGrath and Gillespie were finally rested, Gillespies last over seeing a sight rarely seen in a one day match, 5 slips
and a gully after the 18th over!

Dominic Cork fell to an easy catch in the deep off the bowling of Symonds and not long after, Collingwood fell to what can only be described as one of the best caught and bowled you are likely to see, once again Symonds the bowler. The game, to all intents and purposes was over at this point and when Warne trapped Darren Gough plum infront, it was left to Harvey to take the final wicket and enforced England's lowest score in one day history of 86, the previous being 93 v Australia ay Headingley in 1975.