PERTH – Australia beat England by seven wickets in the first one-day international at Perth Stadium on Friday. Debutant fast bowler Mahli Beardman took 6-24 as England were bowled out for 131. Australia then reached 132 for three in 23.3 overs, finishing with more than 26 overs to spare.
Australia lead the three-match series 1-0.
Beardman tears through England’s top order
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl. Beardman, 21, soon justified his selection. He had England captain Harry Brook caught behind the wicket for 1 in his second over, then removed Joe Root, playing his 200th ODI, for 17.
Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson and Jofra Archer followed, and Beardman finished with 6-24 from 7.4 overs. England slid from 38-2 to 60-7 during his spell and were 65-8 at one stage.
Beardman became only the second Australian to take five wickets on ODI debut, after Tony Dodemaide’s 5-21 against Sri Lanka in 1988. He is the first Australian to take six wickets on debut.
Spencer Johnson supported him with 3-42, including a one-handed catch off his own bowling to dismiss Jamie Overton. Xavier Bartlett took one wicket.
“It all happened very quickly,” Beardman told Fox Cricket afterwards, as reported by ABC News.
Late resistance not enough
England’s best batting came from the lower order. Gus Atkinson finished unbeaten on 29 off 32 balls and Will Jacks made 25. Tom Banton scored 25 at the top of the order, while Root’s 17 was the next highest score. England were all out in 33.4 overs.
Marsh leads the chase
Australia’s reply began with an early loss, as Atkinson bowled Travis Head for a first-ball duck. Marsh then took charge, hitting 50 off 30 balls with four sixes before he was caught off Overton. He and Cooper Connolly (27) put on 61 for the second wicket.
Josh Inglis (23 not out) and Matthew Renshaw (26 not out) completed the chase with 159 balls remaining.
