Michael Clarke’s unbeaten 99 helped Australia win the fourth one-day international by 78 runs at The Oval on Wednesday and reduce England’s lead to 3-1 in the five-match series.
Clarke and captain Ricky Ponting, 92, shared a third wicket stand of 155 as world champions Australia made 290 for five.
England, chasing a ninth straight ODI win, saw swing bowler Ryan Harris take five of their wickets for 32 runs.
The man of the match did the damage in a spell of five for 18 in 23 balls as England’s series lead was reduced to 3-1 after they were bowled out for 212 with 44 balls to spare.
Mike Yardy made a career-best 57, his first ODI fifty, but it was too late to make a difference.
“I have a smile on my face at last,” Ponting said. “Our batting today was at the level it needed to be.”
INSWINGER
England opener Craig Kieswetter was bowled by Harris and Kevin Pietersen, walking well across his stumps, fell lbw to an inswinger for eight — the 15th successive ODI innings where he’d failed to make fifty.
Strauss, fresh from his 87 in Sunday’s one-wicket win at Old Trafford, looked in superb touch as he stroked five fours in making 37.
But fast bowler Shaun Tait, from around the wicket, got a full length ball to curve away and left-hander Strauss was caught behind to leave England in trouble at 61 for three.
Eoin Morgan’s first scoring shot was a straight six off James Hopes and he later struck the medium-pacer for two in as many balls. But, flashing outside off stump, he was caught behind off Harris for 47.
Come the last 10 overs, England needed 93 to win with four wickets standing. Soon afterwards, though, Tim Bresnan holed out to long-on to give Harris his fourth wicket.
Harris ended the match by dismissing Stuart Broad for his third five-wicket ODI haul.
DROPPED
Clarke, dropped off a difficult chance on five, began the final over of Australia’s innings on 98 and on strike.
He took a single off Tim Bresnan and had no care for what would have been only his fifth century in 178 ODIs as Smith retained the strike.
Ponting’s three previous scores of 21, 13 and three were well below his own standards. However, he responded with a 93-ball innings featuring 10 fours and his progress towards a 30th century at this level seemed assured.
But he played an “inside-out” drive against James Anderson and was caught at extra-cover by Strauss.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and