Aussie hard hitting opener Travis Head showcased yet another phenomenal display with the bat as Australia defeated England by a margin of seven wickets in the first One Day International of the five-match series and they have taken a 1-0 lead.
At Nottingham’s Trent Bridge Stadium, Head played an unbelievable unbeaten inning of 154 runs in 129 deliveries which consisted of five maximums and 20 fours as the Kangaroos chased-down a difficult target of 316 runs in just 44 overs.
This win versus the Three Lions was Australia’s 13th consecutive One Day International victory and they also recorded their joint fourth-highest run-chase in the 50 over format.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Harry Brook-led team got all-out for 315 runs in 49.4 overs.Opener Phil Salt got dismissed early on, but the duo of Will Jacks and Ben Duckett stabilised things by getting involved in a partnership of 120 runs for the second-wicket.
Duckett desperately wanted to bring up his century but he was eventually dismissed by Marnus Labuschagne on 95 runs. Labuschagne was Australia’s best bowler of the match as he accounted for three wickets.
Will Jacks played a good helping hand with a knock of 62 runs before leg spinner Adam Zampa got the better of him. Zampa, who was playing his 100th One Day International match, had a really good day as he ended the match with figures of 3-49 next to his name.
Captain Harry Brook and youngster Jamie Smith played decent knocks of 39 and 23 runs respectively. 20-year-old Jacob Bethell, who performed really well in the T20 International series, scored 35 runs which included one maximum and three fours.
A target of 316 runs was never an easy task by any means but Australia managed to pull it off. Seamer Matthew Pots gave the hosts a good start as he got rid of Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh in the fourth over.
However, Travis Head ensured that the ODI World Cup winner didn’t face any kind of difficulties in the chase. He along with Steve Smith (32 runs in 28 balls) stitched a partnership of 76 runs for the second-wicket and the duo got Australia in a safe spot.
But, Smith got dismissed in the 16th over off the bowling of Liam Livingstone as the Aussies were sitting at 96-2 in 15.3 overs.
Cameron Green (32 runs in 32 balls) walked out to bat at number four and he provided an ample amount of support to Head as the two got involved in a 73 run partnership.
Green though was sent back to pavilion by Jacob Bethell in the 27th over but the Kangaroos didn’t feel worried as they were comfortably sitting at 169-3.
Marnus Labuschagne (77 runs in 61 deliveries) walked to the crease following the dismissal of Green but him and Head ensured Australia didn’t lose any more wickets as they helped the World Champions cruise their way to victory.
Travis scored his century in 92 deliveries and he didn’t look like stopping as he brought up his second 150+ score in 123 balls.
After getting defeated in an embarrassing way, the Three Lions will be looking to make a comeback in the series by winning the second One Day International on the 21st of September at the Headingley Cricket Stadium of Leeds.
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