Spin Ensures Aussie Whitewash Down The Swanny
September 20, 2009 by Alex Homer
Graeme Swann’s 5-28 restricted Australia to 176 all out, helping England to a four wicket win on Sunday at the Riverside.
The chase was nervy, after England collapsed from 106-0 to 162-6, with only out-of-form Paul Collingwood left to nudge the side over the line.
Openers Joe Denly and Andrew Strauss flourished early on, striking the ball confidently on their way to a partnership of 106.
But the series top run-scorer Strauss was arguably at fault for the tumble of wickets, top-edging his reverse sweep, with two fielders set for the stroke, when on 47.
Denly was unfortunately run out for 53, Ravi Bopara calling for a single after hitting the ball too close to the fieldsman.
England’s middle order then fell away with Bopara the first to go, lbw to Shane Watson on 13, ending a disappointing series for him.
Middlesex teammates Owais Shah and Eoin Morgan then perished cheaply, both nicking behind off James Hopes and Brett Lee respectively.
With the finishing line in sight, Matt Prior mistimed a drive off Ben Hilfenhaus on 11, and was pouched by Ricky Ponting at extra cover.
Collingwood came back into the side with a characteristically determined knock however, finishing unbeaten on 13, despite looking poor through the offside.
With the Durham man ably abetted by Tim Bresnan (10 not out), England finally got a win under their belts ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy opener against Sri Lanka next Friday.
Australia were slow out of the traps as James Anderson and debutant Graham Onions both struck with the new ball, removing Watson and Tim Paine for 0 and 4 respectively.
On a difficult wicket, Ponting was the only batsman to near fluency with 53 off 67 balls, including eight boundaries.
But Swann tightened the home side’s grip on the fixture, removing the Australia skipper, inside-edging a drive to Collingwood at mid-wicket.
And the Nottinghamshire spinner rattled through the middle order, allowing England to dodge a 7-0 one-day drubbing after Ashes Test success.
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[...] England spinner Graeme Swann said: “This is the kind of forward thinking the game needs. “I assume he [Kirsten] does not mean with the team. Wives and partners must be involved.” [...]