Ian Bell century for England unable to stave off defeat to Australia

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/23/ian-bell-century-england-defeat-australia-tri-series

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A brilliant century from Ian Bell was not enough to prevent England from another Tri-Series defeat against Australia. Bell’s majestic 141 in 125 balls in Hobart, his highest score in one-day internationals and an innings in which he overtook Paul Collingwood as England’s leading runscorer in the format, helped set Australia a target of 304 to win.

Despite a late bout of nerves, the hosts won by three wickets and with a ball to spare, thanks in large part to a century of their own from Steven Smith, standing in as captain in the absence of the banned George Bailey.

Smith’s fifth hundred of a prolific international summer came in his first match leading the 50-over side and he led by example with 102 off 95 balls to strike yet another psychological blow to England before the teams’ World Cup opener in Melbourne on 14 February.

England, who have still not come up against Mitchell Johnson on this trip, know they will face a far tougher test in that match at the MCG.

Australia were not only missing Bailey and Johnson, the fast bowler who tore them asunder during the Ashes whitewash, but David Warner, who was rested, and Shane Watson, ruled out with a tight hamstring.

Australia are assured of their place in the Tri-Series final. Victory against India in Perth next Friday will mean England join them.

The bizarre blackmail plot targeting Eoin Morgan, England’s one-day captain, had overshadowed the team’s preparations on the eve of the match. Perhaps inevitably, he was out for a first-ball duck. Yet it appeared to matter little given Bell’s contribution.

Last Sunday, AB de Villiers proved there are many ways to score a one-day hundred. The South African’s 31-ball masterclass against West Indies in Johannesburg, the quickest ODI century in history – a knock that ended on 149 from 44 balls – went beyond the bounds of what most people thought possible in 50-over cricket.

Bell is a little more conventional in his approach, yet he is still compelling to watch. The 32-year-old may have been bowled first ball by Mitchell Starc when the teams met in Sydney a week ago but it was his 187 in England’s final warm-up match against a Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra that served notice of just how devastating Bell could be over the coming months. An unbeaten 88 against India during last Tuesday’s nine-wicket Tri-Series win in Brisbane underlined that fact.

Bell’s innings, which lasted a shade under three hours and contained 15 fours and one six, underpinned England’s total of 303 for eight. It was only the fifth time they had scored 300 or more since the last World Cup in 2011.

Yet it should have been more, England scoring only 59 off the final 10 overs. By the time Bell, dropped on 80 by Brad Haddin, departed in the 42nd over, England were 253 for three, with middle order power-hitters in Morgan, Jos Buttler and Ravi Bopara all to come.

Morgan, though, was caught behind first ball off Gurinder Sandhu before Starc bowled Bopara for seven. That was the first of three dismissals in the final three deliveries of the innings, Buttler and Chris Woakes both run out by Haddin.

The conclusion was such a disappointment chiefly because of what had happened earlier. Bell and Moeen Ali had got off to a flying start and England were 69 without loss off the first 10 overs.

Bell reached 50 from 42 balls, while Moeen departed for 46, falling to a catch off James Faulkner in the 18th over. The pair had put on 113 for the opening wicket, the first century stand by an England opening pair in ODIs since January 2013, when Bell scored 113 against India in Dharamsala.

James Taylor, so impressive during a 131-run stand with Bell at the Gabba made five, Moisés Henriques having him caught at mid-off. Joe Root added 131 in 19 overs alongside Bell but England lost momentum when Bell departed, the timid end to the innings partly explained by exquisite death bowling from Starc and Faulkner.

Australia started their pursuit confidently, Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch smashing 67 off the first 10 overs.

Marsh was the first of two dismissals in three balls for Steven Finn, who followed up his five-wicket haul in Brisbane by having the opener caught at backward point. He then found reverse swing to trap Cameron White lbw. Moeen removed Finch and Glenn Maxwell either side of Finn’s burst to reduce Australia to 161 for four in the 27th over. Smith steadied the ship, reaching 50 off 51 balls, and by that stage his side required 113 to win from 17 overs.

A 55-run alliance between Smith and Faulkner was terminated by a spectacular catch at point from Bell off Woakes.

Yet Smith had another willing ally in Haddin, the 37-year-old wicketkeeper’s 42 in 29 balls leaving Australia needing seven from 15 balls. They made a meal of getting here, Henriques’ run-out by Taylor increasing the tension before Starc hit the winning runs.