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50 oversAustralia 251 for 7 (Watson 66, Hussey 65, Bresnan 2-50) v England
Shane Watson had moments of fortune but made a valuable 66 © Getty Images
England restricted Australia to 251 in the first innings of the second ODI at The Oval. Half-centuries from Shane Watson and George Bailey ensured a competitive score for the tourists but, having won first use of a good pitch, Australia will require an impressive performance from their bowlers to compensate for a total that might be considered about 25 runs below par.
England may reflect that it could have been even better, though. Watson lived dangerously for much of his innings and, apart from edging the ball just past his own stumps (on 2 and 30), was dropped by Jonathan Trott, at gully, on 8. He also survived a run-out chance on 47 - had Ian Bell, at mid-on, hit with his throw Watson would have been out - and two decisions that were referred to the third umpire for review.
The first of those came when Watson, on 40, was adjudged leg before by umpire Richard Illingworth to a delivery from Stuart Broad, but utilised the Decision Review System to win a reprieve as replays showed the ball would have bounced over the stumps. Moments later, when he had 42, England used their review for another lbw appeal only for replays to show that the ball from Broad struck Watson's pad outside the line of off stump. It was perhaps fitting that he brought up his half-century - from 50 balls - with an clubbed drive through the on side that flew just wide of midwicket.
Bailey was also dropped on 52, a tough chance offered to Tim Bresnan off Graeme Swann at deep midwicket, and could have been run out on 55 had Ravi Bopara hit from a short distance. Brett Lee was also dropped on 2 and 17 - from the final ball of the match - after Eoin Morgan, at long on, failed to cling on to tough chances.
England's front line seam bowling was also not at its best. Missing James Anderson, who was absent with a groin strain, they donated eight wides and two no-balls to the Australian total and strayed on to the batsmen's legs more often than they would have liked. They were grateful for the contribution of part-time seamer Ravi Bopara, who delivered five tight overs and claimed the key wicket of Michael Clarke, who prodded indeterminately at a good length ball outside off stump.
But if Watson was somewhat fortunate, Australian were grateful for his sense of urgency. His top-order colleagues struggled for fluency and, had it not been for Watson, the tourists might have struggled to capitalise on winning the toss on a fine batting surface. In between his nervous moments, Watson played some glorious strokes. Four times he drove boundaries through the covers, with three more coming when England's bowlers strayed on to his legs.
But he enjoyed little support. After easing his first ball, a full toss from the otherwise impressive Steven Finn, through the covers for four, David Warner was beaten outside off stump on several occasions and survived one confident leg-before appeal off Finn when a thin edge saved him. One pull shot off Dernbach passed just out of reach of Cook at mid-on but, attempting to pull another delivery from outside off, he was beaten by Finn's extra pace and spooned a simple catch to Ian Bell at square leg.
Peter Forrest, recalled to the Australian side in place of the dropped Steve Smith, helped Watson add 51 in 61 balls for the second wicket. But, having scored only two from his first 17 deliveries, Forrest never really settled and was superbly caught by wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter, diving full stretch down the leg side as he attempted to turn one off his hips from the bowling of Stuart Broad.
The departure of Clarke and the introduction of Swann and Bopara slowed the rate of scoring. Australia made only 24 in 10 overs and 53 in 18 in mid-innings as Bailey, in particular, became bogged down. The pressure told on Watson, whose final 10 runs occupied 25 balls, and who, in attempting to loft Graeme Swann over the top, succeeded only in gifting a catch to deep mid-wicket.
Bailey - who scored only 26 from his first 61 balls - eventually found some momentum and, in partnership with the more dynamic David Hussey added 78 in 13 overs before Finn, in his follow through, ran out the latter with a superb throw with just one stump to aim at.
That wicket stalled Australia's hopes of some late-innings acceleration. Bailey's lavish drive was beaten by some inswing, before Matthew Wade's attempt to scoop one over the keeper's head resulted only in a simple catch to short fine leg. The last three overs brought 27 as Lee, in particular, attacked with some fluency, but he will need to impress with the ball, too, to prevent his side slipping 2-0 down in this series.
Forrest was not the only change in the Australian team. With Pat Cummins having sustained a side strain in the first ODI at Lord's, he has been forced out of the series and will fly back to Australia on Monday. Mitchell Johnson, who has not played an ODI since October and who has only bowled six overs in List A cricket since November, replaced him in the side.
Shane Watson had moments of fortune but made a valuable 66 © Getty Images
England restricted Australia to 251 in the first innings of the second ODI at The Oval. Half-centuries from Shane Watson and George Bailey ensured a competitive score for the tourists but, having won first use of a good pitch, Australia will require an impressive performance from their bowlers to compensate for a total that might be considered about 25 runs below par.
England may reflect that it could have been even better, though. Watson lived dangerously for much of his innings and, apart from edging the ball just past his own stumps (on 2 and 30), was dropped by Jonathan Trott, at gully, on 8. He also survived a run-out chance on 47 - had Ian Bell, at mid-on, hit with his throw Watson would have been out - and two decisions that were referred to the third umpire for review.
The first of those came when Watson, on 40, was adjudged leg before by umpire Richard Illingworth to a delivery from Stuart Broad, but utilised the Decision Review System to win a reprieve as replays showed the ball would have bounced over the stumps. Moments later, when he had 42, England used their review for another lbw appeal only for replays to show that the ball from Broad struck Watson's pad outside the line of off stump. It was perhaps fitting that he brought up his half-century - from 50 balls - with an clubbed drive through the on side that flew just wide of midwicket.
Bailey was also dropped on 52, a tough chance offered to Tim Bresnan off Graeme Swann at deep midwicket, and could have been run out on 55 had Ravi Bopara hit from a short distance. Brett Lee was also dropped on 2 and 17 - from the final ball of the match - after Eoin Morgan, at long on, failed to cling on to tough chances.
England's front line seam bowling was also not at its best. Missing James Anderson, who was absent with a groin strain, they donated eight wides and two no-balls to the Australian total and strayed on to the batsmen's legs more often than they would have liked. They were grateful for the contribution of part-time seamer Ravi Bopara, who delivered five tight overs and claimed the key wicket of Michael Clarke, who prodded indeterminately at a good length ball outside off stump.
But if Watson was somewhat fortunate, Australian were grateful for his sense of urgency. His top-order colleagues struggled for fluency and, had it not been for Watson, the tourists might have struggled to capitalise on winning the toss on a fine batting surface. In between his nervous moments, Watson played some glorious strokes. Four times he drove boundaries through the covers, with three more coming when England's bowlers strayed on to his legs.
But he enjoyed little support. After easing his first ball, a full toss from the otherwise impressive Steven Finn, through the covers for four, David Warner was beaten outside off stump on several occasions and survived one confident leg-before appeal off Finn when a thin edge saved him. One pull shot off Dernbach passed just out of reach of Cook at mid-on but, attempting to pull another delivery from outside off, he was beaten by Finn's extra pace and spooned a simple catch to Ian Bell at square leg.
Peter Forrest, recalled to the Australian side in place of the dropped Steve Smith, helped Watson add 51 in 61 balls for the second wicket. But, having scored only two from his first 17 deliveries, Forrest never really settled and was superbly caught by wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter, diving full stretch down the leg side as he attempted to turn one off his hips from the bowling of Stuart Broad.
The departure of Clarke and the introduction of Swann and Bopara slowed the rate of scoring. Australia made only 24 in 10 overs and 53 in 18 in mid-innings as Bailey, in particular, became bogged down. The pressure told on Watson, whose final 10 runs occupied 25 balls, and who, in attempting to loft Graeme Swann over the top, succeeded only in gifting a catch to deep mid-wicket.
Bailey - who scored only 26 from his first 61 balls - eventually found some momentum and, in partnership with the more dynamic David Hussey added 78 in 13 overs before Finn, in his follow through, ran out the latter with a superb throw with just one stump to aim at.
That wicket stalled Australia's hopes of some late-innings acceleration. Bailey's lavish drive was beaten by some inswing, before Matthew Wade's attempt to scoop one over the keeper's head resulted only in a simple catch to short fine leg. The last three overs brought 27 as Lee, in particular, attacked with some fluency, but he will need to impress with the ball, too, to prevent his side slipping 2-0 down in this series.
Forrest was not the only change in the Australian team. With Pat Cummins having sustained a side strain in the first ODI at Lord's, he has been forced out of the series and will fly back to Australia on Monday. Mitchell Johnson, who has not played an ODI since October and who has only bowled six overs in List A cricket since November, replaced him in the side.