Jonathan Trott chose the perfect time to deliver his second ODI century as he set up England's formidable 8 for 299 in the must-win ODI in Adelaide. Trott collected an attractive 102 off 126 deliveries that built on Matt Prior's brutal 67 off 58 as the top order maintained a ferocious pace.
The hosts lead 3-0 and can wrap up the seven-match contest with victory tonight, but they face an assignment that would have been even harder without the work of their slow bowlers. David Hussey, who stole 4 for 21 off four overs, and Steven Smith (3 for 33 off seven) collected career-best figures as they restricted batsmen who had enjoyed the offerings of their faster team-mates.
Trott backed up his 84 not out in Sydney on Sunday with a much more fluent contribution that drove England. He unfurled a couple of delightful straight drives, including one off John Hastings to move to 85, and reached his century with a single to midwicket.
He didn't push on after the milestone and played-on to Hussey shortly after raising his bat, walking off with six boundaries and a long ovation. Hussey also removed Eoin Morgan, who miscued a reverse sweep on 24, and at 6 for 227 in the 42nd over, it seemed England were wasting their incredible start.
Paul Collingwood, who launched Brett Lee for six to midwicket in the Powerplay, and Michael Yardy provided some late muscle to ensure a big score. Collingwood passed 5000 ODI runs, becoming the first England batsman to pass the milestone, during his run-a-ball 27 while Yardy grabbed an unbeaten 39 off 27. Hussey, the offspinner, was called late, knocking over Collingwood and then dismissing Ajmal Shahzad in the final over.
Prior and Jonathan Trott delivered the early pain to the Australians after the visitors won the toss. Prior, who didn't score in his past two innings, sped to his half-century with a series of brutal pulls and drives. He and Trott put on 113 at almost a run a ball for the second wicket following the early loss of Andrew Strauss for (8).
Prior wasted little time in getting going, flicking a boundary behind square off the expensive Lee in the first over, and he soon hit him for another strong shot on the up through cover. Doug Bollinger was also targeted by Prior, who struck two off-side fours before Trott played a crisp straight drive in an over costing 14.
Australia had a couple of run-out chances and the worst miss came when Prior and Trott ended up at the same end after Lee's ball was defended by Trott on to the base of the stumps. Lee followed through but his wild throw back to the bowler's end was wide and Trott survived on 30. Lee's embarrassment worsened next ball when Prior pulled him off the front foot for six to bring up his fifty as England moved to 100 after 15 overs.
Smith, the legspinner, picked up the key wicket of Prior in his second over when he cut to point in the 23rd over. Smith had more success when he watched Kevin Pietersen chip to long-on on 12 and two balls later Bell exited without scoring. Bell went down the pitch trying a late cut, with the edge being well taken by Brad Haddin, and England stuttered to 4 for 158.
Xavier Doherty, the left-arm spinner, also exploited the sluggish pitch and slowed the run-rate during 10 overs costing 44. The work of the slow men was desperately needed as the quicks were targeted throughout. The fast bowlers seemed in trouble from the moment Lee's first over went for 12 after he started with five wides down the legside. He finished with 1 for 68 off eight while Bollinger also struggled at the start and finish, giving away 55 in nine.
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