Inspired by a Jonathan Trott century, England secured a 21-run victory over Australia on Wednesday, keeping alive their hopes of winning the one-day series after trailing 3-0. The tourists needed a win to claw their way back into the seven-match series and a fine century by man-of-the-match Trott helped them to 299-8, the first time they have lasted their full allotment of overs in the series.
Australia never looked comfortable in reply at the Adelaide Oval and their chances all but evaporated with the fall of opener Shane Watson for 64, caught behind of Ajmal Shahzad, to leave the hosts on 116-4. Captain Michael Clarke's season-long woes with the bat deepened when he was clean bowled by Paul Collingwood for just 15 as the home team fell short with 278 for seven.
England captain Andrew Strauss welcomed the improved performance from his side in the one-day game after they earlier crushed Australia to win the Ashes. "It was a far better performance all round than in the first three games," he said. After being three-nil down in the series, it was a must-win game for us.
Trott (102 from 126 balls), who also picked up two wickets in the Australian innings, set up the win with his second ODI century while opener Matt Prior belted 67 from 58 balls. The pair set England on course for a big score, piling on 113 in quick time for the second wicket. They were helped by poor bowling from Australia's pacemen, with Brett Lee conceding 68 runs from eight overs and Doug Bollinger 55 from nine.
Lee's wayward bowling helped the English get off to flyer, his first delivery resulting in five wides in an opening over that cost 12 runs. However, the loss of Prior in the 23rd over slowed the innings. Prior, who was coming off successive ducks, brought up his 50 with a six off Lee, but fell to Steve Smith in the spinner's second over, top-edging an attempted cut.
The English middle order struggled with Kevin Pietersen making just 12 and Ian Bell going for duck, the pair both falling within three balls in one Smith (3-33) over. Eoin Morgan's indifferent form continued when he fell to part-time spinner David Hussey attempting a reverse sweep for 24. Hussey bowled just four overs, but picked up 4-21, also removing centurion Trott, who dragged a ball onto his stumps, Paul Collingwood (27) and Ajmal Shahzad (4).
England were forced to leave out spinner Graeme Swann and all-rounder Tim Bresnan, both sent home early because of injury in a bid to have them fit for next month's World Cup. Swing bowler James Anderson returned for his first game of the series at the expense of youngster Chris Woakes, while Pietersen was recalled for Luke Wright.
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Scoreboard England:
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A. Strauss c Haddin b Lee 8
M. Prior c Doherty b Smith 67
J. Trott b Hussey 102
K. Pietersen c Marsh b Smith 12
I. Bell c Haddin b Smith 0
E. Morgan c Lee b Hussey 24
P. Collingwood c White b Hussey 27
M. Yardy not out 39
A. Shahzad c Watson b Hussey 4
C. Tremlett not out 0
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Extras: (lb4, w12) 16
Total: (for eight wickets, 50 overs) 299
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Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-136, 3-158, 4-158, 5-224, 6-227, 7-283, 8-294.
Bowling: Lee 8-0-68-1 (5w), Bollinger 9-0-55-0 (1w), Watson 5-0-29-0, Hastings 7-0-45-0 (5w), Doherty 10-0-44-0 (1w), Smith 7-0-33-3, Hussey 4-0-21-4.
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Australia:
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S. Watson c Prior b Shahzad 64
B. Haddin c Strauss b Tremlett 20
S. Marsh c and b Anderson 1
M. Clarke b Collingwood 15
C. White c Yardy b Trott 44
D. Hussey c Bell b Trott 28
S. Smith not out 46
J. Hastings c Strauss b Anderson 1
B. Lee not out 39
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Extras: (b4, lb8, w7, nb1) 20
Total: (for seven wickets, 50 overs) 278
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Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-33, 3-87, 4-116, 5-176, 6-199, 7-201.
Bowling: Anderson 10-1-57-2 (1nb), Shahzad 10-0-58-1 (4w), Tremlett 10-0-62-1 (1w), Collingwood 7-0-22-1 (1w), Yardy 6-0-36-0 (1w), Trott 7-0-31-2.
Result: England won by 21 runs
Man of the match: J. Trott (ENG)
Australia lead seven-match series 3-1
Toss: England
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Simon Fry (AUS)
TV umpire: Gary Baxter (NZL)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (SRI).
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