Jonathan Trott continued his prolific tour with his second hundred of the one-day series as England made the most of batting on a hot afternoon to post a massive 6 for 333 at the SCG. His career-best 137 was the cornerstone of England's highest total against the hosts in Australia with Andrew Strauss providing the early impetus from a positive 63 and Ian Bell the later power in a fourth-wicket stand of 104 in 11 overs.
It was the third time in the series they had beaten their record total after the innings at Melbourne and Adelaide. Trott's hundred was his fourth of the trip following two in the Ashes series and his 102 at Adelaide last week. He took his time to play himself in and didn't strike a boundary until his 40th delivery in a first fifty taking 61 balls. But the next half of his ton came off 39 balls as he collected four boundaries during the batting Powerplay.
Shaun Tait thought he had him lbw on 82, but the decision was overturned on review with the ball sliding down leg, and Trott escaped again with a missed run out opportunity on 88. He started to have problems running from what appeared to be cramp as the hundred approached and, after passing three figures and slamming Mitchell Johnson through the covers, was allowed a runner until falling in the final over. The last 87 of his runs came from 65 deliveries.
Bell provided the innings with ideal acceleration as he got himself going in the batting Powerplay then showed his inventive skills by lapping Shane Watson and John Hastings for boundaries. He and Trott added runs at nearly nine an over, the sort of dominant partnership England have struggled to produce even in their previous hefty totals.
Michael Clarke used eight bowlers, including himself for a rare over, but none were especially effective and the fielding was ragged. Admittedly, Strauss won an important toss which meant his bowlers avoided the hottest conditions, but Australia lacked the edge of previous matches when the series was alive.
Matt Prior began unconvincingly against the short ball as he twice pulled just out of reach of fielders. He produced a couple of stinging drives before being removed in Johnson's first over when a delivery shaped back at him, struck the pad and cannoned into off stump.
Strauss was far more secure and wasn't afraid to use his feet against the quick bowlers as he advanced at Johnson and whipped him through the leg side. He repeated the dose as Johnson dropped short in his next over during an inconsistent spell where the ball was also pushed down the leg side.
Strauss reached a neat fifty, his second of the series, off 52 balls but knew that England's failing has been to build on starts. When Clarke introduced his spinners Strauss worked them around comfortably to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Having watched the batsmen throw away wickets during the series, Strauss looked intent on showing the way. However, having played with controlled aggression he clipped Steve Smith to midwicket to gift the legspinner another wicket during a productive series.
Kevin Pietersen was threatening to cut loose with two boundaries in three balls off Hastings, but his frustrating series continued when he drove the first ball of the batting Powerplay to mid-off. The fielding restrictions again threatening to be a curse rather than a blessing, but the five overs still produced 43 runs as Trott and Bell began their surge.
Eoin Morgan (21) kept up the momentum in the closing overs, as Trott laboured with his muscle problems, until reverse sweeping Watson to short fine-leg. Even with a depleted bowling attack England should defend this total.
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