English stun Aussies at Rose Bowl

Australia has suffered a shock defeat at the hands of England in the Twenty20 international match played at the Rose Bowl in Southampton this morning.

Warm-up victories over the weekend, against the Professional Cricketers' Association XI and Leicestershire, had the Australians fairly confident going into the second-ever international of the new Hybrid form of One-Day Cricket. The first-ever international, earlier this year, saw Australia defeat New Zealand.

Michael Vaughan won the toss and elected to bat first in an attempt to truly test the Aussie bowling attack before the (ODI) Natwest Series starts later this week.

The English opening pair of Geraint Jones and Marcus Trescothick put on 28 runs before Jones (19) was caught by Michael Kasprowicz off the bowling of Glenn McGrath.

Batting all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was the next to go with the score on 49 and was dismissed cheaply for six off by Kasprowicz with Andrew Symonds taking the catch.

Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood were able to push the score along to a respectable 100 and it looked like they would provide a competitive target for a batting line up which is considered, by many, to be the best performed in recent years.

The English compiled 8/179 off their allotted 20 overs, with Darren Gough and Steve Harmison not required to bat.

The Aussies, in reply, were then skittled for a paltry 79. Jason Gillespie was the only batsman to show any resistance, scoring 24 in a last ditched effort that saw his team at least sport some kind of a respectable total.

Jon Lewis was the main destroyer with 4/24 off the maximum four overs. Lewis received support from England’s best bowler of yesteryear, Darren Gough (3/16) and all-rounder Collingwood (2/8) were the other multiple wicket takers.

Pietersen received the man of the match award for his match saving knock of 34 off 18 balls, batting at second drop in the order.

County team Somerset host the Australians on Wednesday at Taunton. The tourists last hit-out before their first game of the Natwest Series, against Bangladesh at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Saturday.

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