ODI Tri-series, Australia vs England as it happened: Smith ton helps Australia enter final

Australia are through to the final of the Tri-series.

That’s it! Australia win by 3 wickets. Smith remains not out on 102.

The last ten overs of their batting cost England. They started off well as openers Moeen Ali and Ian Bell added 113 runs. Bell went on to hit 141 but after his departure, England collapsed. England lost 6 wickets for 59 fromt he last 10 overs and posted 303/8.

In reply, Finch and Shaun Marsh provided the perfect start for Australia adding 76 runs. Finn brought England back in the match with two wickets in one over but Smith build partnerships with Maxwell, Faulkner and Haddin and then got to his ton making sure Australia were past the finish line.

After 48 overs, Australia 299/6, need 5 off 12 balls

CENTURY: Smith gets to his 3rd ODI century off 93 balls. He launches one over long on off Anderson and then takes a couple of singles to bring up his hundred. A 100 in the first match as Test skipper and now a 100 in his first match as ODI skipper. He is just unstoppable. OUT! Haddin departs trying to cut a bouncer and gets caught at point. But he has done his job. Moises Henriques is the new batsman.

After 45 overs, Australia 272/5

Haddin playing a gem here. He’s raced on to 30 off 21 balls. He cracked a couple of fours off Broad and then took on Finn hitting him for a six and four over mid on. Smith meanwhile is playing the safe role, picking up singles while Haddin is playing the aggressor. Smith has moved on to 88. Australia need 32 off 30.

After 40 overs, Australia 230/5

England have done well to restrict Australia to 30/1 in the Battign Powerplay. But Smith is really looking strong at one end. Australia need 74 from 60. Run rate not a big porblem. If Australia preserve wickets, this is easy for them.

After 37.2 overs, Australia 216/5. 

OUT! Woakes gets a timely wicket. J Faulkner c Bell b Woakes 35 (43b 4×4 0x6)

Just when it looked like it was all going too easy for Australia, Woakes strikes. Smith and Faulkner had just brouhgt up the 50-run stand but then Faulkner looks to drive a length delivery outside off but ends up slicing it to backward point where Bell takes a good low catch. Australia had taken the Batting Powerplay after 34 overs.

Brad Haddin is the new batsman.

After 33 overs, Australia 191/4

Faulkner has started off on a positive note and has scored 21 off 24 balls with a couple of boundaries. Smith is playing sensibly and rotating strike with singles. He brings up his fifty off just 51 balls. He is in form of his life. Australia need 113 off 102 balls now.

After 27 overs, Australia 162/4, they need 142 more from 23 overs.

OUT! Maxwell departs G Maxwell c Root b Ali 37 (38b 4×4 0x6)

It’’s flighted on off, Maxwell gets down for a heave but doesn’t connect it well and helps it straight into the hands of Joe Root at deep mid-wicket. A typical Macwell cameo comes to an end. 

James Faulkner is promoted up the order!

After 23 overs, Australia 141/3

In his typical fashion, Maxwell has come out blazing and making most of the dropped chances. He’s hit three boundries so far and scored 27 off 27. Smith, meanwhile, has been rotating the strike well and is on 31 off 29 balls. The pair has added 48 off 6.3 overs. England need to break this partnership now.

After 16.3 overs, Australia 92/3

OUT! Finn gets another one. C White lbw b Finn 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Terrific delivery, An inswinging yorker and White can’t get his bat down in time. He was beaten the previous delivery and then succumbed to a deadly yorker.

After 16.2 overs, Australia 92/2

OUT! Finn gets the big one. S Marsh c Bell b Finn 45 (48b 6×4 0x6) SR: 93.75

England fighting back. Marsh was looking dangerous. It was full from Finn, Marsh went for a booming drive but sliced it straight to backward point.

After 18 overs, Australia 105/3

Maxwell is dropped. It’s all happening out in the middle. It’s full from Finn and Maxwell flicks it uppishly, Anderson at short mid-wicket drops a tough one. Two wickets and a drop in the Finn over.  Steven Smith (17*) and Maxwell (5*) are out in the middle.

After 12 overs, Australia 77/1

OUT! Moeen draws first blood! A Finch b Ali 32 (32b 3×4 0x6) 

It’s flughted and on a length on off, Finch dances down the track for a big one but is done in by the flight and the spin, he misses it completely and the ball hits top of leg. 

Steven Smith is the new batsman.

After 10 overs, Australia 67/0

Broad and Anderson have put a lid on the scoring after the initial burst. Just two boundaries in five overs. But Just like England, Australia have got off to a very good start. Marsh is on 39 and Finch is on 25.

After 5 overs, Australia 39/0

Australia have got off to a fantastic start chasing 304. Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch the openers have taken the score to 39/0 from five overs. Marsh has played some lovely shots and has hit five of the seven fours hit so far. He’s een really good on his pads and the cover drives. He hit three consecutive fours in the third over off Woakes.

England post 303/8 from 50 overs. A brilliant fightback from Australia though. England were cruising at one stage after a brilliant century from Bell. Moeen along with Bell provided a strong platform adding 113 runs for the opening wicket. But Australia pulled it back and England could only score 36/0 in the Batting Powerplay.  England kept losing wickets at regular intervals after Bell’s departure and Australia scalped 6/59 from the last 10 overs. Sandhu was the pick of the Australian bowlers with figures of 2/49 from 10 overs. England have surpassed 300 but the question is will it be enough on a track which is getting better for batting?

After 45 overs, England 276/5

OUT! A timely breakthrough for Australia. J Root c Finch b Cummins 69 (70b 6×4 0x6)

Root was starting to look dangerous. A scoop and a reverse-lap for boundaries and then he looks ot heave one but mistimes it straight to mid on. A decent innings comes to an end. Australia are fighting back hard now………..

Ravi Bopara is the new batsman.

After 42 overs, England 254/4, Root 58* and Buttler 0* are at the crease.

England finally upped the ante after an average Batting Powerplay but lost the wickets of Bell and Morgan. Bell was the main aggressor as he hit a couple of boudaries and a six but then departed off a poor shot.

OUT! A wonderful innings comes to an end. I Bell c Starc b Sandhu 141 (125b 15×4 1×6) 

Length delivery outside off, Bell charges down the track and looks to go over the top but ends up miscuing high in the air. Starc at mid off back peddles and pouches a very good catch. Bell gets a standing ovation as he walks back.

OUT! Morgan gone for a golden duck. E Morgan c Haddin b Sandhu 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) 

Good length delivery outside off, nips away. Morgan stays rooted to his crease and looks to defend but gets squared up. he then looks to steer but gets an outside edge to the keeper.

After 37 overs, England 237/2

Bell gets to his highest ODI score, Root gets to his 8th ODI fifty & the 100-run stand comes up too. Root has played really cleverly so far, 52* off 57. Root has been really consistent, he last ten innings scores read – 113, 2, 42, 48*, 36, 104*, 55, 80, 5 and now 52*

After 37 overs, England 219/2

England took the Batting Powerplay after 32 overs. The have slowed down considerably, just 36 runs off it. Root tried to up the ante with a couple of boundaries off Starc in the 34th over. Both the batsmen rotated the strike well with singles and two’s but with just two wickets down, they would have hoped for a blistering Powerplay!  Root is on 47 while Bell on 119.

After 31 overs, England 177/2

CENTURY! Bell gets to his century off 90 balls, his 4th in ODIs. He’s carried forward the momentum from the last match and played some sublime shots. 27 runs off the last 6 overs. Bell slowed down a little but that’s because he was nearing the century. Root has moved on to 24 off 32 balls and looking comfortable out in the middle. Bell also surpassed Collingwood as England’s highest run-getter in ODIs!

After 25 overs, England 150/2

Bell continues to play sublime shots. A cover drive for four and then a leg glance for another one. He races on to 92 off 81 balls. The scorebord is kept ticking here. Australia had done well to pick a couple of quick wickets and restrict the scoring. Thy need to make sure Bell doesn’t run away with this now.

After 22.2 overs, England 132/2

OUT! Taylor departs! J Taylor c Faulkner b Henriques 5 (14b 0x4 0x6)

Taylor was struggling to find the middle of the bat and he finally gives in. It’s full from Henriques, Taylor looks to go over the top but the bat turns in his hands and he horribly mistimes it straight into the hands of Faulkner at mid off. 

Joe Root is the new batsman.

After 20 overs, England 119/1

Proceedings have slowed down. The run rate came under six for the first time. Bell and Taylor are at the crease and they would be looking to build another good partnership here. Taylor has struggled to middle the ball so far and is on 1 off 9 deliveries. Bell has moved on to 71. 8 runs and a wicket off the last three over.

After 17.4 overs England 113/1

OUT! Faulkner finally gets the breakthrough. Moeen Ali c sub (XJ Doherty) b Faulkner 46 (48b 3×4 3×6) 

Back of a length delivery outside off, Moeen dances down the track and looks to swing across the line but is done in by the extra bounce. He gets a top edge, Doherty at extra cover settles under it and takes a good catch. A decent knock comes to an end. 

James Taylor is the new batsman.

Bell and Moeen bring up 100-run stand. It’s their first opening century partnership since January 2013.

After 14 overs, England 87/0 

Ian Bell gets to his fifty off just 42 balls. It’s his 33rd ODI half-century. He’s played some wonderful shots hit 8 fours so far. England are off to a solid start.

After 10 overs, England 69/0

England have carried forward the momentum. Ali who started off sedately, got into the act in the 9th over and took on Pat Cummins hitting him for three sixes in a row. All pull shots. The last one was a short arm jab and Marsh put in a terrific effort on the mid-wicket boundary but the momentum makes sure that he can’t recover after crossing the fence. Bell meanwhile is oozing class and hitting them off middle. This is a good start from England.

After 5 overs, England 34/0

England have got off to a really good start. They have raced on to 34 from 5 overs. Bell has carried forward the momentum and put on an exhibition. He’s played some cracking drives on the up and raced on to 27 off 17. Moeen Ali has played sedately. Looks like reversal of roles. 7 boundaries in first 5 overs, we don’t hear this about England often of late!

Australia XI: Marsh, Finch, Smith, White, Maxwell, Haddin, Faulkner, Henriques, Cummins, Starc, Sandhu.

England XI: Ali, Bell, Taylor, Root, Morgan, Bopara, Buttler, Woakes, Broad, Anderson, Finn.

TOSS – Australia have won the toss and elected to bowl against England.

ODI Tri-series: Henriques replaces Watson in Australia squad for Hobart ODIhttp://www.firstpost.com

ODI Tri-series: Depleted Australia eye final berth as they take on Englandhttp://www.firstpost.com

Hello and welcome to the coverage of the fourth match of the ODI Tri-series between Australia and England at Hobart. The match starts at 8.50 IST, follow this space for live scores and updates.