Adam Voges’ unbeaten 80 from 72 balls {hbox}” his highest one—day international innings {hbox}” and his 95—run partnership with David Hussey set up Australia’s 57—run win over England to take the series 6—1 on Sunday.
In reply, England collapsed to be 64—5 and was all out for 222 in the 44th over. Michael Yardy finished 60 not out for England, also his highest one—day score.
Mitchell Johnson took 3—18 for Australia, while Shaun Tait bowled nine wides but still managed 3—48 and Jason Krejza picked up two wickets in his one—day debut.
Australia took the opportunity to rest skipper Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brett Lee and Steve Smith.
Voges, Tim Paine, Krejza and Doug Bollinger all came into the side, which was captained by Cameron White for the first time.
After the early loss of Paine and Callum Ferguson, White joined Brad Haddin and the pair took 11 overs to put on a 37—run stand, with both men intent on spending long periods in the middle after just one half—century between them during the series.
Haddin never really got going before he holed out off Yardy’s first over to Steve Finn, who cleverly released the ball as he stepped over the boundary before re—catching it inside the rope at long on.
White struggled on for another five overs, before he mistimed a drive and Yardy completed a sharp catch off his own bowling, White’s 27 coming from 47 balls.
Voges engineered several useful partnerships down the order, most notably a 45—run stand with Johnson (26).
James Anderson was the best of the England bowlers, with 3—48 off his 10 overs, while Liam Plunkett claimed 2—49 and Yardy 2—59.
England’s bowlers conceded 30 extras, including 19 wides, but Australia did little better, having nine wides within the first six overs and also 19 in total.
England was in trouble immediately in its reply after Tait got a ball to clip the top of Andrew Strauss’ off stump with the second ball of the innings, and the visitors were never really in the hunt for victory.
After a slow start, Hussey compiled a run—a—ball total and found an ally in Voges.
It was Voges’ second one—day 50 and his partnership with Hussey got the Australian innings back on track before he engineered several useful partnerships down the order, most notably a 45—run stand with Johnson (26).
Paine was the first wicket to fall, given out lbw to Plunkett on referral after umpire Paul Reiffel had originally turned down the appeal.
Replays showed that the ball was hitting the stumps despite Paine having advanced a fair way down the pitch, and the decision was overturned.
White said it was good to head into the World Cup, where Australia is the three—time defending champions, on a winning note.
“I think there is a bit of improvement left, I still think we are really yet to combine a good bat and ball game,” he said. “It’s been very good but I still think there is another that we can take it to, and need to for a tournament like the World Cup.”
Strauss said England should have batted better but denied that his side’s minds was already on the flight home after a winning Ashes series and the long one—day series.
“I think our minds are on the plane home now, definitely, but I don’t think that was the case out there today,” the England captain said. “We didn’t play particularly well. There were lots of wides, in between some good stuff as well, but I think we should have made a better fist of chasing that down. I don’t think that was an unattainable target on that wicket.
“To lose five wickets in the first 15 overs is criminal really when you are chasing down a big score, and from that moment on it was going to be hard.”
