Birthday boy Stuart Broad took four wickets as England beat Australia to go 2-0 up in their five match one-day series against the world champions at Sophia Gardens on Thursday.
England, chasing 240, were in trouble at 109 for three, but Eoin Morgan, who had rescued England from the depths of 97 for four with an unbeaten century in their series-opening win at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, made an accomplished 52.
He put on 83 for the fourth wicket with Paul Collingwood, before his World Twenty20-winning captain played on to left-arm quick Doug Bollinger for 48.
There was still work to be done though, when left-hander Morgan was caught behind off Bollinger. The paceman had taken two wickets for two runs in 13 balls and England were 211 for six.
However, Tim Bresnan (12 not out) and Graeme Swann (15 not out), who ended the match with a six off paceman Clint McKay, saw England to a second straight four-wicket win with 24 balls to spare.
“Chasing 239, you’d take that every time against Australia,” victorious England captain Andrew Strauss said.
“We had a bit of a wobble at the end, but it’s another good performance,” added the left-handed opener, who made a run-a-ball half-century.
Broad, playing in this series after being rested from England’s 2-0 home Test series win over Bangladesh, said: “It’s great to be back playing and be involved in this changing room. Everyone is seeking constant improvement. I feel in pretty good shape at after three-and-a half-weeks’ work in the gym.”
Ultimately, an Australia attack lacking injured quicks Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus was unable to defend a below-par total of 239 for seven, but that owed much to the accuracy of England’s bowlers, with paceman Broad taking four wickets for 44 runs from his 10 overs, including his 100th at this level as he turned 24 on Thursday.
All-rounder Luke Wright weighed in with one for 38 off nine overs, while left-arm spinner Michael Yardy’s eight overs cost just 31 runs as Australia’s run-rate slowed in the middle overs.
“It was pretty much a mirror image of the last game,” Australia captain Ricky Ponting said. “We just didn’t get enough runs after winning the toss. We need guys like me and the top order to get more runs, but you’ve got to give England some credit.”
■ASIA CUP
AFP, DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka
India’s pace battery led by Ashish Nehra demolished Sri Lanka to help their team win the Asia Cup with a comfortable 81-run win on Thursday.
Dinesh Karthik top-scored with 66 as India made 268-6 after electing to bat in the day-night final, before the defending champions and hosts were shot out for 187.
India, who last won the region’s premier one-day prize during the 1994-1995 season, denied Sri Lanka a hat-trick of titles following their victories in 2004 and 2008.
Nehra claimed four wickets, including two in one over, as Sri Lanka were reduced to 51-5 by the 16th over, before being bundled out in the 45th over.
India never looked back after hard-hitting opener Tillakaratne Dilshan was dismissed off the fifth delivery, holing out to mid-on off seamer Praveen Kumar.
Kumar, who made use of windy conditions to swing the ball, bowled an unchanged opening spell of nine overs in which he conceded just 29 runs.
Fellow seamer Zaheer Khan bowled Upul Tharanga, before Nehra wrecked havoc by having Mahela Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews caught behind in the 14th over.
Nehra also removed Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara for 17, but Thilina Kandamby (31) and Chamara Kapugedara (55 not out) delayed the end.
Nehra’s 4-40 was supported by Zaheer’s 2-36 and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja’s 2-29.
Karthik, who replaced the injured Virender Sehwag, was named the man of the match at the Rangiri Stadium in Dambulla.
Karthik put on 62 for the second wicket with Virat Kohli (28) and 46 for the third with Dhoni (38).
Rohit Sharma propped up with the middle-order with a fluent 41, before Jadeja boosted the score with an unbeaten 25.
Kandamby, who had failed to take a wicket with his leg-spin in 32 previous one-day internationals, stunned India’s top order with the dismissals of Karthik and Dhoni.
Sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga finished with 2-57, while Nuwan Kulasekara claimed 1-44.
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