Oz burn England, on way to Ashes

Australia observed them closely by clinically approaching a low-run chase but England chose to brush them away with disdain. Their batsmen failed to make the most of Ponting’s over-concern about the dew, and frittered away a good start after being put into bat on good batting wicket. And thus, despite the exuberance of their new-ball bowlers, England stands on brink of getting eliminated from this Champions Trophy.

After a six-wicket defeat today, their second in as many matches, it’s now a matter of few mathematical calculations and a prayer on the lips—India will have to keep an all-win record in their group — if England has to make sense of their last league encounter against the West Indies.

There was some post-interval theatrics though, what with light-towers switching off for ten minutes and immediate dismissal of Adam Gilchrist on resumption, followed by Watson and Ponting returning, but Australia ensured a healthy victory margin, and with 13.1 overs to spare.

Damien Martyn and Michael Hussey stood firm against a fired-up Sajid Mahmood and stiff evening breeze that counted much for a swinging new ball. The duo went about the job with precision, stitching a 118 run partnership in 189 balls and before Martyn departed on a personal score of 78, Australia were just 18 runs away from target. Hussey, though, was still standing in the middle, unbeaten on 32 when a no-ball from Harmison brought down the curtains.

It was a treat to watch Martyn get back into his form with a flurry of boundaries hit square and in front of the wicket. The flow of his bat was silken and his timing immaculate; he was ably helped by a listless Steve Harmison with the semi-new ball and a hollow English bowling.

There was another duo, who did the trick with the ball for Australia. Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson had plenty of inputs as much as Ian Bell’s moment of madness, a tentative Kevin Pietersen at number three and Flintoff’s ‘pull’ of arrogance. Watson remained the pick of Australian bowlers with a dream spell of 7-0-16-3.

... contd.