England scrape home in ODI#3 after Australia fight back

England 9/214 (49.1 ov, A Strauss 87) def Australia 212 (46 ov, S Watson 61, G Swann 4/37) by 1 wicket (with 5 balls remaining) ODI#3/5 at Old Trafford Manchester. England lead series 3-0.

Australia started well: Shane Watson and Tim Paine put on 75 before the first wicket fell. Ricky Ponting was stumped off Graham Swann (an unusual mode dismissal for Ricky) , then it was downhill most of the way.

212 was never going to be enough on a good wicket and so it turned out....just. England were motoring along nicely at 3/185 when Steven Smith had Eoin Morgan caught at mid wicket. Then at 189 Ryan Harris had the innings backbone Andrew Strauss caught behind for 87/121 b (8x4). A run later Smith removed Luke Wright for 0: 6/190. Then Doug Bollinger and eleventh hour inclusion Shaun Tait returned, took three more wickets between them (Bollinger two beaut yorkers) leaving England to get 10 from 2 overs and Australia in the box seat.

There was a problem, though: Bollinger (10-3-20-3) and Tait (10-1-28-3) had been bowled out. So Harris bowled over 49 and conceded 7 runs while James Hopes who Ponting perhaps unwisely preferred to Smith (yes I know it's easy to be wise after the event), bowled not his first poor ball of the innings which Tim Bresnan edged (guided?) for four and a victory.

Oh, and a 3-0 series lead to England with two to play.

Scorecard

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