MELBOURNE – Opener Jason Roy smashed England’s highest individual score inone-day internationals to guide his side to a comfortable five-wicketvictory against Australia in the opening match of the series at theMelbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
The 27-year old hit 180 and combined in a third-wicket stand of 221 withtest skipper Joe Root, who made an unbeaten 91, to make the seemingly steep305-run chase look easy and help England to their first win on the tour.
Roy surpassed team mate Alex Hales’s previous ODI best of 171 during his151-ball knock as England cruised home with seven balls to spare in amorale-boosting victory, after a demoralising 4-0 loss in the Ashes tests.
After being put in to bat in the opening ODI of the five-match series,Australia opener Aaron Finch compiled his ninth hundred in the 50-overformat to help the hosts to a total of 304 for eight.
Yet the target proved insufficient as Roy hit 16 fours and five sixes in abelligerent knock, his fourth ODI hundred.
Roy, who celebrated his century with a leap in the air, reached fifty in 32balls and gave England a rollicking start in their chase with an openingstand of 53 with Jonny Bairstow in under five overs.
England stuttered a bit after fast bowler Mitchell Starc dismissed Roy,with the touring side also losing captain Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler soonafter. Root, however, remained unbeaten to take them home.
Australia had earlier lost David Warner for two to a fast andsharply-rising delivery from paceman Mark Wood while in-form skipper SteveSmith (23) and Travis Head also fell cheaply as the hosts were reduced to78-3 in the 14th over.
Finch, who hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 107, and all-rounderMitchell Marsh then gave Australia a platform to build on with a stand of118.
Finch and Marsh, who made 50, fell in quick succession and it was left toMarcus Stoinis and Tim Paine to provide Australia’s late assault and givethem a defendable total.
Stoinis smashed 60 in 40 balls while Paine contributed a useful 27 as thepair added 80 for the sixth wicket to help the hosts get past the 300-runmark.
Brisbane will host the second match of the series on Friday. – Agencies