Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
| First ODI, Melbourne |
| Australia 304-8 (50.0 overs): Finch 107, Stoinis 60, M Marsh 50; Plunkett 3-71 |
| England 308-5 (48.5 overs): Roy 180, Root 91* |
| England won by five wickets |
| Scorecard |
Jason Roy hit the highest one-day international score by an England player with a sublime 180 to help the tourists beat Australia by five wickets in the first ODI at the MCG.
Roy surpassed Alex Hales’ previous mark of 171 before the opener was caught late on as England eased to the highest successful run chase at Melbourne.
Joe Root made 91 not out in a stand of 221 with Roy as England reached 308-5.
Aaron Finch’s 107 saw the hosts post 304-8 after being put in to bat.
England started rapidly in reply, only to lose Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales in quick succession, before Roy and Root rebuilt from 60-2 to dominate Australia’s bowlers.
Despite the late dismissals of Roy, captain Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler, England calmly secured a 1-0 lead in the five-match series in an impressive start following the 4-0 defeat in the Ashes.
The second ODI is at Brisbane on 19 January, starting at 03:20 GMT.
- England intend to be ruthless, says Roy
- Relive England’s record-breaking win
Records, rollicking and rotation
Roy got England off to a dazzling start. Clearly relishing the pace of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, the England opener pulled anything short, drove powerfully down the ground and regularly hit over the top.
He took just 32 balls to reach fifty, but the soft dismissals of opening partner Bairstow and number three Hales required him to play more cautiously alongside Root.
The 27-year-old adapted tremendously, showing considerable nous to rotate the strike with the immaculate Root and keep England ahead of the rate, only to stall when approaching three figures.
But after successfully reviewing on 91 when given out lbw to Adam Zampa – the ball striking the pad outside the line – Roy hit the next delivery for six before reaching his fourth ODI century off 92 balls.
Reaching his ton restored Roy’s fluency and power as he surged to 150 off 126 balls before passing the record set by Hales against Pakistan in 2016.He also now has the record for the highest ODI score at the MCG, beating Mark Waugh’s 173 against West Indies in 2001.
It seemed only the lack of runs required would prevent Roy reaching his double century before he finally miscued a pull shot off Starc and was caught by sub fielder Jhye Richardson.
At the other end, Root deftly manipulated the field in an almost flawless knock to anchor the chase. The lack of runs required was the only reason he did not complete a century of his own.
