England set Australia 300-run target

England reached their highest total of the one-day series against Australia with 299 all out in the fifth match at Trent...

England reached their highest total of the one-day series against Australia with 299 all out in the fifth match at Trent Bridge on Tuesday. After an ominously slow four overs when England crawled to 4-0,the home side hit out on a helpful wicket and kept scoring despite the loss of key wickets. Even so,every batsman down to No. 10 got a start without going on to get a truly big score.

Captain Andrew Strauss set an example with 35 at almost a run a ball after he again won the toss,but Eoin Morgan was the true engine with a top score of 58 from 41 balls.

Adil Rashid smashed 14 of the 18 runs to come off the last over,with three boundaries off the expensive Mitchell Johnson,before he was run out on the last ball trying to push the score past 300 for only the second time in 28 matches. The spinner finished with 18 from nine balls,Matthew Prior scored 37 and Joe Denly chipped in with 45 as an opener.

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Earlier,Strauss sent a scare through the England camp when felled by a Graham Onions bouncer in the nets hours before the match. England’s leading run-scorer in the series looked dazed after ducking into a short-pitched delivery and immediately called for the team physiotherapist. He was later cleared to play,and said he was suffering only from a fat lip when asked about his condition at the toss.

Brief scores: England 299 all out in 50 overs (E Morgan 58,J Denly 45,A Strauss 35; Hauritz 2/54,Watson 2/60,Johnson 2/80)