Paine twists the knife as England slump to sixth defeat in a row

Published on Thursday 17 September 2009 22:48

ENGLAND are one match away from suffering a humiliating series whitewash after crashing to a 111-run defeat in the sixth one-day international against Australia at Trent Bridge.

Tim Paine, the rookie wicketkeeper-batsman, hit his maiden one-day international century as the tourists posted 296 for eight batting first.

His innings of 111 from 148 balls was built on composure and, from a player making just his seventh appearance, was one England's aspiring batsman would have done well to take notice of following a series when they have routinely failed to cash in on promising starts.

Their chase was not undermined by such profligacy, however, rather two brilliant pieces of fielding from Ricky Ponting. The skipper ran out Matt Prior and Ravi Bopara in the space of five balls to suck the life out of England's chase at 60 for four.

England steadily lost wickets thereafter and were eventually bowled out for 185 from 41 overs to give little reason to suggest they can avoid a 7-0 humbling in the final match of the series at Chester-le-Street on Sunday.

England's chase was almost immediately on the skids when Andrew Strauss was incorrectly given out from the second ball for a duck. The skipper fended inside a searing short ball from Brett Lee, but after a big appeal from the Australians umpire Asad Rauf lifted his finger. Strauss was clearly unhappy after getting his second bad decision in as many games but he would have been less enthused as his team struggled thereafter.

Joe Denly had again got off to a start, reaching 25 from 43 balls, before he miscued a drive off James Hopes to Lee at mid off.

England's hopes were then evaporated after two sublime pieces of fielding from Ponting. The skipper's turn and throw from cover caught Prior backing up too far and five balls later another direct hit sent Bopara packing for 25.

Owais Shah was again involved, although rather than the hesitation that has plagued his running previously this time his total commitment to the run sold Bopara into a single that was not there. The Essex right-hander was caught yards short of his ground as England sunk to 60 for four after 15 overs.

Shah and Eoin Morgan both produced some eye-catching strokes, but as so often with England's middle-order in this series they both got out as they started to look dangerous.

The highlight of Australia's 296 for eight was Paine's maiden ODI century. The 24-year-old belied his inexperience with a composed innings of 111 at the top of the order.

James Anderson had removed Shane Watson (four) and Ponting (six) inside the opening 10 overs, but with the level head of Mike Hussey by his side Paine built his innings with his strokeplay square of the wicket a feature. The pair put on risk-free 163 runs for the third wicket.

Paine patiently waited for England to bowl to his strengths, which they invariably did, forcefully cutting Bresnan backward of point on a couple of occasions before lifting Mascarenhas over the mid-off ropes.

The innings stalled slightly as Paine crept up on his ton. He took nine balls to get off 98 before pushing to mid-off and bring up his hundred.