ENG vs AUS: Travis Head’s 154* powers Australia to 1-0 lead against England
Travis Head put on another stupendous show as Australia beat England by seven wickets in the first ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
At the Trent Bridge in Nottingham, Head scored an unbeaten 154 off 129 balls with 20 fours and five sixes as the Aussies chased down a challenging target of 316 in 44 overs. Extending their winning run in ODIs to 13, Australia also recorded their joint fourth-highest successful run-chase in the format.
After opting to bat first, England were bowled out for 315 in 49.4 overs. Phil Salt departed early, but Ben Duckett and Will Jacks carried the momentum with a partnership of 120 runs for the second wicket. Duckett, however, was unlucky after Marnus Labuschagne dismissed him when he was on 95. Labuschagne was Australia’s man with the golden arm with three wickets to his name.
Jacks also made a valuable 62 before Adam Zampa accounted for his wicket. Zampa, who played in his 100th ODI, had a memorable outing after he finished with figures of 10-1-49-3. Stand-in skipper Harry Brook and Jamie Smith chipped in with vital contributions of 39 and 23 respectively. The young Jacob Bethell, who impressed in the T20I series, made 35 runs with three fours and a six.
Travis Head marches along
Matthew Potts gave England a decent start after getting rid of Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh. But Head made sure that the visitors never fell behind the 8-ball. He joined hands with Steve Smith to rebuild the innings with a partnership of 76 runs for the second wicket off 12 overs.
After Smith got out to Liam Livingstone, Head put on 73 runs along with Cameron Green, who made 32 at a run-a-ball. Thereafter, Head and Labuschagne made sure that Australia did not suffer any more hiccups. Head got to his hundred off 92 and then went past the 150-run mark off 123 deliveries.
Labuschagne lent Head support, scoring 77 off 61 in an unbeaten 148-run partnership for the fourth wicket. After facing the hammering, England will be looking to bounce back when the second ODI takes place on September 21 at the Headingley in Leeds.