Australia’s Shaun Marsh insisted a 200-run win over an outclassed Scotland side in Edinburgh on Tuesday had been a “worthwhile” exercise ahead of the five-match ODI series with England.
While England were tested by Ireland on Tuesday before completing a six-wicket win in Malahide ahead of tomorrow’s series opener in Leeds, Australia were utterly dominant against a largely amateur Scotland side.
Marsh made 151 and Aaron Finch 148 — his maiden ODI century — as the duo shared an Australian record 246 for the first wicket in a huge total of 362-3.
PHOTO: AFP
Victoria batsman Finch’s latest hundred followed his Twenty20 world record 156 against England at Southampton last week.
The total was the highest Scotland had ever conceded at this level, with Finch’s runs coming off just 116 balls with 16 fours and seven sixes before he holed out off spinner Majid Haq.
Marsh, whose father Geoff helped set the previous Australian first-wicket record of 212 together with David Boon against India at Jaipur in 1986, was slightly more sedate. He faced 149 balls and hit 16 fours and five sixes.
PHOTO: AFP
However, Marsh insisted: “It wasn’t easy out there. It was a tricky wicket, they bowled well and I had to work hard.”
“It was definitely a worthwhile exercise — 100 percent. The boys got time out in the middle, the bowlers bowled well and it was a great spectacle. It’s great to come up to a lovely place like Edinburgh,” Marsh said.
“The boys have really enjoyed it,” he said as Australia now look to complete their first series win over England in any format on this tour after losing the Ashes 3-0 and sharing the subsequent Twenty20s 1-1.
Australia also dominated Scotland with the ball, left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson taking 4-36.
It was not what Scotland needed ahead of two matches away to Ireland this weekend, with the Scots needing to win both Belfast clashes if they are to retain any hope of automatic qualification for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
“We have got to look beyond this match and accept the result,” Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said. “We can still take a lot of confidence into the Irish games.”
“We need some perspective on this match. We are still an associate cricketing nation and Ireland are too. The two games over there are our main focus and count for more,” he said.
“That is the real acid test for us to see exactly where we are. They have been nudging ahead in recent years but we still believe we are strong enough to take them down,” Mommsen said.
Kawhi Leonard on Sunday scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a lopsided 115-96 victory at Minnesota. The 34-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion, matched the second-best road scoring effort of his career as the Clippers improved to 25-27. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said. “Every moment when I touch the ball — assist, shooting the basketball or getting a rebound — I’m just trying to help the team win.” Leonard made three steals in a row at the start of the contest. “Just wanted to come out early in the
FLOP TO CONQUEROR: It was sweet vindication for Sam Darnold, who played for four NFL teams before his debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate win The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday coasted to Super Bowl glory, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize. Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. “It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display and kicker Jason Myers’
Donyell Malen on Monday scored in each half as AS Roma beat Cagliari 2-0 to stay in touch with the chasing pack at the top of Serie A. Leaders Inter are eight points clear of city rivals AC Milan and nine ahead of reigning champions SSC Napoli. Roma are three points further back along with Juventus. Dutch centerforward Malen had scored only once in four appearances since joining on loan from Aston Villa last month, but he proved his worth on Monday with two excellent finishes. He ran on to a clever through-ball from Gianluca Mancini and his deft chip over the goalkeeper
Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the cohosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup yesterday in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, for their second win in Group B. The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9. The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a 50 in T20 World Cups. Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century. It has been
RSS