There it is! And it's Paul Collingwood with the winning runs through midwicket!
Australia vs England, 1st Final at Melbourne, Feb 09 2007 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
1st Final (D/N), Melbourne, February 09, 2007, Commonwealth Bank Series
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ENG
Full commentary
Well blow me down and rewrite history. England, yes, England!, have won the first final of the CB Series by four wickets, thanks to a monumental unbeaten 120 from 133 balls from Paul Collingwood!
An unbiased view from Rick Johnson who emails: "Ned Kelly, Robert Menzies, David Campese, Kylie Minogue, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, Ian Thorpe, Yvonne Goolagong, Mel Gibson ... your boys took a hell of a beating"
The dressing-room has just spontaneously combusted, with Andrew Flintoff leading some monstrous bear-hugs. This has been a remarkable evening at Melbourne. The team that, two weeks ago, could sink no lower has just bounced back in remarkable style!
That's it from us today. No prizes for guessing the Man of the Match. I've been Andrew Miller, and from my colleagues, Martin Williamson and Andrew McGlashan, it's goodbye, and join us again on Sunday at 3.15am GMT for the second final at Sydney. It's been emotional and I need a cuppa ...
49.3
1
Bracken to PD Collingwood, 1 run
49.2
1
Bracken to Nixon, 1 run
tip and run and the scores are level! Chipped to mid-on and Nixon is too quick for the fielder
Everyone is in the circle
49.1
2
Bracken to Nixon, 2 runs
full-length from around the wicket, Nixon whips it fine again, and he's found space as well!
end of over 499 runs
ENG: 249/6CRR: 5.08 • RRR: 4.00
Paul Collingwood119 (132b 7x4 1x6)
Paul Nixon8 (8b)
Glenn McGrath 10-0-53-0
Shane Watson 8-0-51-1
If this is a tie, it automatically goes to a third final ... In the meantime, it's Nathan Bracken to defend four runs in this final over ...
Hell of a day to give up barbiturates ...
48.6
•
McGrath to PD Collingwood, no run
full-toss, back to McGrath. A single threatened, but wisely turned down
Deep cover comes in. Ponting has to stop the singles
48.5
4
McGrath to PD Collingwood, FOUR runs
drilled down the ground! That's a massive strike! Great quick feet from Collingwood, and McGrath couldn't cut it off!
48.4
1
McGrath to Nixon, 1 run
low full-toss, clipped to the mid-off fielder in the ring, but another quick single ...
48.3
2
McGrath to Nixon, 2 runs
great cricket from Nixon. Big gaps on the leg side, and he worked it expertly off his toes into the gap. England need a run a ball again ...
48.2
•
McGrath to Nixon, no run
Nixon charges, McGrath intercepts a checked drive above his head, the crowd think it's a catch, but in fact it's a dot ball!
48.1
2
McGrath to Nixon, 2 runs
full-length, whipped through the leg side, England run two to fine leg, and it's 11 off 11!
end of over 4812 runs
ENG: 240/6CRR: 5.00 • RRR: 6.50
Paul Nixon3 (4b)
Paul Collingwood115 (130b 6x4 1x6)
Shane Watson 8-0-51-1
Glenn McGrath 9-0-44-0
Crikey. Just as well I don't have a hangover today ... Talking of hangovers, here's the long-suffering McGrath for his final surge. Round the wicket
47.6
1
Watson to Nixon, 1 run
slower ball, clubbed down the ground, through long-off! 13 from 12 ...
47.5
1
Watson to PD Collingwood, 1 run
would have been out if it had hit! Collingwood looked for the sweep, played to mid-on instead and Nixon was late setting off. The shy missed by a whisker!
47.4
1
Watson to Nixon, 1 run
excellent cricket from Nixon. On off stump, tip and run into the off side. Collingwood back on strike ...
47.3
1
Watson to PD Collingwood, 1 run
wider line, and Collingwood picks the gap in the covers. England need almost a run a ball
(no ball as well ...)
47.2
4
Watson to PD Collingwood, FOUR runs
two fours in two balls, and that was an even better shot! Slower ball from Watson, and Collingwood scooped that up and over McGrath at fine leg!
47.1
4
Watson to PD Collingwood, FOUR runs
full-toss, and that's a vital boundary for England! Collingwood down on the sweep, picks his spot perfectly just behind square, and Brad Hodge's despairing dive can't cut it off!
end of over 473 runs • 1 wicket
ENG: 228/6CRR: 4.85 • RRR: 8.33
Paul Nixon1 (2b)
Paul Collingwood105 (126b 4x4 1x6)
Glenn McGrath 9-0-44-0
Shane Watson 7-0-39-1
46.6
•
McGrath to Nixon, no run
massive shout! But McGrath is coming around the wicket, and umpire Harper believes that's sliding down. Hawkeye doesn't agree! Lucky break for Nixon who shuffled right across his stumps
46.5
1
McGrath to PD Collingwood, 1 run
wide outside off stump, pushed confidently back past the bowler, and tidied up at long-off
46.4
1
McGrath to Nixon, 1 run
a risk-free single nudged down to long-on
Nixon to face his first ball ... 27 from 21 ... Four inside the circle, plenty of gaps. McGrath around the wicket to the left-hander
46.3
1
McGrath to PD Collingwood, 1 run
bit of width, pushed into the covers, that's another single ...
46.2
•
McGrath to PD Collingwood, no run
brilliant fielding by Ponting at mid-on! Dived full-stretch to cut off the run!
Here comes Paul Nixon. Mostly mouth, no trousers this series so far ... What next?
46.1
W
McGrath to Dalrymple, OUT
McGrath's made the difference! Inswinging low full-toss, an excellent ball in the circumstances, squirted out to point, and Clark's return to the bowler is pinpoint! Dalrymple was late setting off and was never in the frame ...
Jamie Dalrymple run out (Clarke/McGrath) 3 (5b 0x4 0x6 6m) SR: 60
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