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Ashes 2002/3 | Australia v England VB Series | Melbourne
VB
Series, 2002/03, 2nd Match Australia v England Melbourne
Cricket Ground (day/night)
15 December 2002 (50-over match)
Toss: Australia
Result: Australia
won by 89 Runs
Umpires : SA Bucknor (WI) and SJA
Taufel
Match Report : Scorecard - Warne
Shoulder Injury
If ever there was a doubt that Australia
weren't as good as everyone was making out, they firmly
kicked any such thoughts well and truly into touch
at the MCG today winning by 89 runs in the second
VB Series match.
However, the biggest blow to Australia
came late in England's reply when Shane Warne dislocated
his shoulder fielding off his own bowling. The Victorian
fell awkwardly on his right shoulder and his team-mates
immediately called for a stretcher.
Shane
Warne Report on Injury
 Australia,
thanks mainly to a record breaking second wicket partnership
between Gilchrist and Ponting, hit their highest score
against England in One Day internationals - 318. Their
first 100 runs came of 93 balls and their double-century
partnership came off only 191 deliveries.
Early in his innings, Gilchrist took
an unlikely second fiddle to his captain but soon
got in his stride and overtook his team-mate scoring
at over a run a ball.
Before this match no Australian had
scored a century against England at the MCG, a remarkable
record. The pair soon put that to rights with Gilchrist
reaching three figures first and Ponting soon after.
The pair who's record partnership
of 225 beat the 12 year old partnership record of
Geoff Marsh and Dean Jones of 185. They never looked
in trouble and with amazing stroke play took away
any chances England had of winning their first tour
match.
Australia lost a few quick wickets
when trying to push the total past the 300 mark but
never seriously looked like posting a low total. The
England bowling was ordinary and Ponting's first error
came when he was on 89 when he tried to chip a Gareth
Batty delivery over mid on; Nick Knight appeared to
catch the ball in mid flight but promptly dropped
the ball allowing a reprieve for the Australian captain.
In reply, only Sydney centurion Knight
(70) offered any resistance in the upper/middle order
as once again the England team crumbled under tight
and aggressive Aussie bowling.
Warne took two wickets in his 8 overs,
Hussain played on while attempting a sweep and Owais
Shah, caught by Glenn McGrath, looks out of depth
in international matches. He will struggle to make
the final 15 squad for next years World Cup.
Blackwell (43) and White (57) put
on a 72 run partnership as England tried to salvage
a one point bonus point for finishing within 50 runs
of the winning team. Blackwell was the first to go
when he became the third wicket to fall by a run out,
the third such dismissal in the top seven batsmen;
Irani and Stewart were the other two to fall due to
a combination of poor calling and good fielding.
White was there at the end when Brett
Lee cleaned up the tail with his speed. It is hard
to imagine where England goes from here and it is
clear that Sri Lanka and England are now chasing second
spot to make the final in January.
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