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Geoff: Who won the ashes THIS year?

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Posted by: jojomataketa

Flintoff ends England's losing drought

Brydon Coverdale

January 16, 2007

England 7 for 206 (Flintoff 72*, Bell 45) beat New Zealand 9 for 205 (Astle 45, Anderson 4-42) by 3 wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary


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James Anderson's four wickets put England in a good position before a tight finish © Getty Images


Andrew Flintoff put the Ashes whitewash behind him and dragged England to their first win on the Australian tour as they beat New Zealand with a ball to spare at Hobart. England made hard work of the chase of 206 before Flintoff's 72 off 75 balls pushed them over the line in an incredibly tense finish.

England wanted only six runs from the final two overs, but a combination of Jamie Dalrymple's dismissal and Jon Lewis staying on strike held up Flintoff's attempts. He finally got to face with four balls left and hit a two to deep mid-on, patted the next delivery back to the bowler Craig McMillan and then found a gap straight down the ground to the relief of the dancing Barmy Army supporters on the hill. It was their first success in the 68 days since losing to the Prime Minister's XI in November.

The reply began at a crawl and when Flintoff arrived at 4 for 98 in the 31st over there was much to do. He worked with Ian Bell, who made a calm 45, and then found a willing ally in Paul Nixon. Together they edged England into the stronger position during a 60-run partnership that seemed certain of taking them to victory. However, Nixon, who was playing his second ODI, was run out in the third-last over for 15 and when Dalrymple was caught at point in the 49th, the result was still unclear.

Flintoff was lucky to be there after two close calls went his way in the final six overs. Mark Gillespie thought he had made the breakthrough in the 47th over when Flintoff skied a high ball to Ross Taylor at mid-on, but a late waist-high no-ball call from the square-leg umpire rightly reprieved Flintoff at a critical moment.

Two overs before, after the required run-rate edged above six, he tried to relieve the pressure with a slog to deep midwicket off Daniel Vettori. The ball landed just inside the rope but Taylor was too far in and was unable to take the chance running back towards the boundary.

In a match that barely moved out of second gear, England showed no intention of getting ahead of the run-rate in a laborious opening. Michael Vaughan and Andrew Strauss managed only three boundaries in the first ten overs as they pushed and prodded their way to 0 for 24. James Franklin ensured neither of them capitalised on their start, having Vaughan caught at midwicket attempting a pull on 17, and trapping Strauss with another doubtful lbw decision. Vaughan was not 100% during his innings and needed a runner for a hamstring problem, which he was due to have scans on after the match.

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Peter Fulton reached 27 but was unable to push on © Getty Images


Bell stabilised England's innings but he and Paul Collingwood fell to Jeetan Patel's impressive offspin and he ended with 2 for 34. Patel also showed his skills in the field with a direct hit run-out from backward point to send Ed Joyce back for 5, and he also removed Dalrymple in the second-last over with a smart catch.

While New Zealand's effort in the field was commendable, they were again let down by their batting. James Anderson put England on target with a solid display of fast and accurate bowling as he claimed 4 for 42, forcing New Zealand to rely on help from the tail to limp to 9 for 205.

Franklin and Shane Bond added 39 for the eighth wicket to give themselves something to defend but Anderson had already set the scene, troubling the top order and grabbing three dismissals in his opening spell. Nathan Astle was the only batsman to threaten a big score but he got a thick inside-edge on to his stumps off Collingwood for 45. Peter Fulton (27) and Craig McMillan (22) also wasted their starts after Taylor, Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum fell victim to Anderson.

The contest did little to suggest either side will match Australia's limited-overs aggression but England finally have a chance to take their momentum into a clash with the hosts. They face Australia at Brisbane on Friday.

© Cricinfo


Posted by: forwardone

Well...erm....! Seriously though, the Aussies were awesome in the Ashes. England were well and truly hammered after the 5-0 whitewash.

The Australians are the best cricketing nation in the world, and very worthy winners.

Just wait for 2009!!


Posted by: jojomataketa

Quote:
Originally Posted by forwardone
Well...erm....! Seriously though, the Aussies were awesome in the Ashes. England were well and truly hammered after the 5-0 whitewash.

The Australians are the best cricketing nation in the world, and very worthy winners.

Just wait for 2009!!


Can't wait!....May be England needs some experienced players like...........you. Apply!....or bring back Gooch, Boycott and Botham!


Posted by: rixzta

Quote:
Originally Posted by jojomataketa
Can't wait!....May be England needs some experienced players like...........you. Apply!....or bring back Gooch, Boycott and Botham!


Gooch IS back ! Along with Border, Lillee, Richardson, Ambrose......the list goes on. An absolute plethora of memories relived !

http://www.xxxxgoldbeachcricket.com.au


Posted by: rixzta

They actually played in Perth yesterday, but although I was up that way I was playing Representative Cricket for my Club/Association in the Country Week Championships and was unable to get there.

Played 6 games in 7 days.....Friday played 8 hours in 44c heat..... Saturday cooled off to a paltry and refreshing 41c

All in all a great week, though missed out on the Grand Final by a mere 0.8 (equates to 8 runs or one wicket )


Posted by: forwardone

Quote:
Originally Posted by rixzta
Gooch IS back ! Along with Border, Lillee, Richardson, Ambrose......the list goes on. An absolute plethora of memories relived !

http://www.xxxxgoldbeachcricket.com.au


I wonder if they`ll all become honorary Brits for a few months and help us out on the field?

No wonder you guys enjoy your cricket so much - just look at the XXXX Angels.

http://www.xxxxgoldbeachcricket.com.../img_angels.jpg


Posted by: forwardone

Quote:
Originally Posted by rixzta
They actually played in Perth yesterday, but although I was up that way I was playing Representative Cricket for my Club/Association in the Country Week Championships and was unable to get there.

Played 6 games in 7 days.....Friday played 8 hours in 44c heat..... Saturday cooled off to a paltry and refreshing 41c

All in all a great week, though missed out on the Grand Final by a mere 0.8 (equates to 8 runs or one wicket )


So near yet so far eh Rick. Is this an annual event you took part in here?


Posted by: rixzta

Sure is Geoff, Country Week is an annual battle of the regional teams of our massive state, and is a week loaded with great cricket, great mates and after the battle, gallons of beer !


Posted by: forwardone

In the 1st of the one day finals England have just beaten the Aussies by 4 wickets.

Paul Collingwood remained unbeaten on 120 runs.


Posted by: Los

Whose got the ashes ???? rofl

one has the feeling the Aussies are trying to make a game of it all??


Posted by: forwardone

England Beat Australia In One Day Final
England reign Down Under
11 Feb 07

Commonwealth Bank Series - Second Final
Sydney
England 246-8 Innings Complete (P D Collingwood 70) v Australia 152-8
England beat Australia by 34 runs (D/L Method)

England claimed the Commonwealth Bank Series title with a 34-run win against Australia in a rain-affected second final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

A tour that just over a week ago looked set to be remembered as an unmitigated disaster ended in glory as Paul Collingwood inspired England to their fourth consecutive victory and a 2-0 scoreline in the best-of-three finals.

The Durham batsman, fresh from a match-winning century in the first final on Friday, compiled a patient innings of 70 and then claimed two wickets as Australia collapsed in pursuit of a target that was twice revised due to rain interruptions.

Australia's top order imploded in pursuit of an initial target of 247 that was eventually revised to 211 from 33 overs following two weather interruptions.

Sky Sports


Posted by: forwardone

Ah well, England don`t need the 3rd final in Adelaide to win the Final.


Posted by: Los

ah they did it did they well congrats to England the whole trip wasnt a waste they got some glory. even if it is just a day night trophy lol.

we shall keep the ashes warm for ya ( remember the big un )


Although i must laugh at the heading "England reign downunder "??


Posted by: jojomataketa

Nice one, England!


Posted by: Indyan

That was very very surprising. Aussies loosing som many matches in a trot. This is good news for other teams


Posted by: forwardone

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - South Africa have taken over from Australia as the world's top-ranked team in one-day international cricket after New Zealand took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Chappell-Hadlee series in Auckland on Sunday.

The hosts chased down Australia's total of 336 for a second straight victory in the best-of-three series to demote the visitors from the top of the rankings for the first time since they were introduced in October 2002.

South Africa recently beat Pakistan 3-1 in a home one-day series to edge closer to the Australians, who were also beaten by England in the tri-series finals at home a week ago


Posted by: forwardone

No longer No.1 eh?


Posted by: Indyan

Yes. I saw todays match, live (the NZ innings). It was great batting by the kiwis.They needed 91 runs in last 10 overs. Craig McMillan came in, and dessimated the aussie attack. He got the required run rate to below 6, within next 5.2 overs.


Posted by: forwardone

Third One Day International
Hamilton
Australia 346-5 Innings Complete (M L Hayden 181 no, S R Watson 68) v New Zealand 350-9 (C D McMillan 117, B B McCullum 86 no, P G Fulton 51)

New Zealand beat Australia by 1 wicket

New Zealand produced another extraordinary run chase to grab a thrilling one-wicket victory against Australia to seal a 3-0 series whitewash in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, on a record-breaking day in Hamilton.

A downtrodden Australia side looked to have bounced back thanks to opener Matthew Hayden's epic knock of 181 not out - the highest one-day score ever by an Australian.

Hayden carried his bat despite breaking his toe and needing a runner just after his century, to help the Aussies record another challenging total of 346-5 from their 50 overs.

New Zealand's top order then crumbled to 41-4 as the Aussies looked to have the game in the bag, until Craig McMillan and Brendon McCullum took over with two huge innings' of their own.

McMillan was back to his best as he fired the quickest one-day hundred ever by a New Zealander en route to his 117, while McCullum finished the game off in style despite wickets falling as he got them across the line in the final over with just a wicket in hand.

Sky Sports


Posted by: forwardone

So, New Zealand take the series 3-0.



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