Debutant Mahli Beardman took 6 for 24, the best ODI figures by an Australian on debut, as England were bowled out for 131 in Perth. Mitchell Marsh then hit 50 off 29 balls as Australia won the first ODI by seven wickets with 159 balls to spare.
Perth, Australia: England lost seven wickets for 41 runs and the first ODI was over inside 57 overs. Mahli Beardman, 21, tore through the visitors on his debut and Mitchell Marsh finished the job with a 29-ball fifty, giving Australia a seven-wicket win and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Beardman rips through England
Marsh won the toss and bowled, and England’s openers survived the early overs, taking the score to 24 in five before Ben Duckett slashed at Spencer Johnson and was caught at backward point by Jack Edwards. Then Beardman took over. He removed captain Harry Brook for 1 and Joe Root for 17 to leave England on 55 for 4 after 14 overs, and Jordan Cox (2), Sam Curran (0) and Liam Dawson (0) followed. England were 65 for 8, in danger of being bowled out for under 100, and most of the top order had fallen to shots at balls they did not need to play.
Will Jacks, who made 25, and Gus Atkinson dragged England past 100. Jacks was caught first ball after the drinks break, and Beardman ended the innings by bowling Jofra Archer for 11, with Atkinson unbeaten on 29 from 32 balls. England were all out for 131 in 33.4 overs. Johnson took 3 for 42.
Beardman’s 6 for 24 were the best ODI figures by an Australian on debut, and only the second five-wicket haul by an Australian man on ODI debut after Tony Dodemaide’s.
Marsh finishes it quickly
England got the perfect start in the chase when Atkinson bowled Travis Head first ball, but Marsh answered with an all-out attack on Archer and Atkinson, reaching 50 off 29 balls with four fours and four sixes. Cooper Connolly made 27, and Matt Renshaw (26 not out) and Josh Inglis (23 not out) saw Australia home on 132 for 3 in 23.3 overs.
Marsh said Beardman was one of several young pace bowlers ready to step up when the older trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood retire. Brook said England had prepared for the pitch and knew certain shots would not work, but that Australia’s attack bowled extremely well and England failed to execute.
What comes next
The teams move to Adelaide for the second ODI on Sunday. The series began quietly, with much of the attention on the Sandpapergate debate reopened by Usman Khawaja’s autobiography, which SportsNewz covered in Khawaja’s claims and Cricket Australia’s response.
Result: First ODI, Perth Stadium: Australia won by seven wickets with 159 balls remaining. England 131 all out in 33.4 overs (Gus Atkinson 29*, Tom Banton 25, Will Jacks 25; Mahli Beardman 6-24, Spencer Johnson 3-42). Australia 132 for 3 in 23.3 overs (Mitchell Marsh 50 off 29, Cooper Connolly 27, Matt Renshaw 26*, Josh Inglis 23*). Australia won the toss and chose to bowl. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0.
