Australia v/s England: Chris Woakes’ knock saves distressed England in fourth ODI
Australian captain Steve Smith’s decision to bowl paid dividends as England were held to just 196 in the fourth one-day international in Adelaide on Friday.
With the five-match series already in their keeping after winning the first three games, the tourists did well to reach a competitive total following a disastrous start which saw them lose four of their top six batsmen for ducks.
On Australia Day, it was all the home side as the tourists slumped to eight for five in the early overs. Their lowest-ever total of 86 looked in danger until all-rounder Chris Woakes rescued the innings.
It could easily have been six wickets before reaching double figures as well, with captain Eoin Morgan having two near-misses as soon as he came to the crease.
In the end, solid resistance from Woakes (78) along with Morgan and Moeen Ali (33 each) — and Tom Curran (35) — enabled England to scramble to a decent total.
Woakes continued his excellent form with the bat in the series, hitting five sixes in the 82 balls he faced before being caught on the boundary off Andrew Tye (3-33).
The rot set in early for England after being sent in by Smith for the second successive match, …read more
