there it is! The runs count no matter how you get them, Hastings swings and a thick inside edge rolls down to the fine leg boundary. The Duke has done it for Australia at the death
Australia vs England, 6th ODI at Sydney, Feb 02 2011 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
6th ODI (D/N), Sydney, February 02, 2011, England tour of Australia
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AUS
Full commentary
Australia go 5-1 up in the series with a nailbiting two-wicket win with four balls to spare. After all the flak he's received, it was Michael Clarke who held Australia's chase together with a well-paced knock that ensured that the earlier efforts of Watson, Johnson and Ferguson did not go in vain. There were contributions from all of Australia's batsmen, White and Hussey chipping in too.
But spare a thought for Jonathan Trott - a career-best effort from him to set up what could so easily have been a match-winning total. Strauss and Bell also showed they're in good nick. A thrilling end to the game that showed that there's still life and passion in this series - although, worryingly, injury lists for both teams continue to grow.
Andrew McGlashan's bulletin will be up presently - no doubt after a couple of frantic re-writes after that close finish.
A bittersweet victory, Andrew Strauss is asked. "Yeah just bitter I think, if I'm honest," he says. "It was great to see Trott play so well, all the same. 333 is a good score on any ground. We weren't helped by Collingwood's injury, and it was very disappointing not to be able to defend 333. Collingwood is ok, he had a back spasm." Team balance? "Five bowlers aren't enough when one of them goes down, that's for sure. We'll have to think about team balance at the world cup. We're 5-1 down, that's the way the game goes sometimes. If you've got seven matches it gives one side a great opportunity to gain momentum and get on top of the other. I'm still confident we've got a great side, we had a great Ashes series and no-one can take that away from us. This series hasn't really helped us nail down our World Cup XI as there've been so many injuries, but it's the same for Australia."
"Nice to get a hundred," says Jonathan Trott. "It's more memorable when you win the game. We would've taken 333 at the beginning of the day. It's good to be able to continue doing well for the team. I'm not looking to stand still, I'm looking to improve all the time."
"We're winning, first and foremost, and it's nice to be contributing with the bat," says a smiling Michael Clarke. "We had to take a few risks, I punted a bit on sending Mitch up the order and he played really well. He strikes the ball as clean as anyone. A few things didn't go to plan with the ball for us, but we're stoked to have chased those runs down. The boys are a bit weary, a bit tired, but we've got some tough cricket to come. My family and friends were out to support me today, I love playing at the SCG and it was nice to get some support today."
That's all from your commentary team today. Just a quick reminder, you can head over to our Twitter handle, @ESPNcricinfo, to remain updated on all the latest happenings in cricket. And while you are at it, you could also check out our
href="http://www.facebook.com/Cricinfo" target="_new">Facebook page which gives you the chance to share all your thoughts on anything that's cricket - including today's game. Do join us for the final game of this series, which is being played at the WACA on Sunday (11:20 local, 03:20 GMT). Until then, goodbye!
49.2
4
Woakes to Hastings, FOUR runs
49.1
1
Woakes to Lee, 1 run
full and fast, Lee drives and a thick outside edge flies down to third man ... just the single
Mid-off was up, three men were out on the leg side - so the bouncer was always on, but that was much too short
49.1
1w
Woakes to Lee, 1 wide
not the best start, he's slammed that down halfway down and that's ballooned way, way over the batsman's head
One hit will do it. The short boundary is on the leg side. Chris Woakes will have the responsibility of bowling the final over. He looks relaxed in conversation with his captain. The crowd are alive at the SCG!
end of over 4910 runs • 1 wicket
AUS: 328/8CRR: 6.69 • RRR: 6.00
Brett Lee1 (1b)
John Hastings3 (3b)
Steven Finn 10-0-51-2
James Anderson 10-0-91-1
48.6
1
Finn to Lee, 1 run
rising towards the hip, Lee doesn't know too much about it as the ball takes the thigh pad and lobs up in the air towards square leg ... eventually Hastings calls him through
England need 7 from 7 ... Brett Lee is the new batsman
Trott was the fielder out there, after his earlier lapse he fired in a perfect throw to Prior. That ends a great knock from Clarke, 82 from 70 balls. The crowd rise to their feet as he leaves the field, that's good to see
48.5
1W
Finn to Clarke, 1 run, OUT
slower-ball bouncer, Clarke aims a well-controlled paddle-pull into the deep. They push hard for the second ... but he's short of his ground! Clarke is run out and Australia are eight wickets down
Michael Clarke run out (Trott/†Prior) 82 (70b 4x4 1x6 115m) SR: 117.14
48.4
3
Finn to Hastings, 3 runs
that's in the air ... but safe! Hastings heaved a length delivery high into the leg side, two fielders chased after it but their tag-team effort goes slightly awry and they're back for three
48.3
•
Finn to Hastings, no run
smell that! A well-directed bouncer from Finn and Hastings is in no position to play it. The ball bursts past his grille. That's one for the over
48.2
1
Finn to Clarke, 1 run
leading edge as Clarke looks to work to leg, into the covers and they steal a quick single
48.1
4
Finn to Clarke, FOUR runs
dropped by Trott at short fine leg! He'd had such a good day until this moment, Clarke walked across to off and flicked uppishly, the ball flew in the air and Trott leapt but just tipped it over the bar - getting a hand to it but he just couldn't hold on. And he took such a good catch in that position earlier!
end of over 484 runs • 1 wicket
AUS: 318/7CRR: 6.62 • RRR: 8.00
John Hastings0 (1b)
Michael Clarke76 (67b 3x4 1x6)
James Anderson 10-0-91-1
Steven Finn 9-0-41-2
47.6
•
Anderson to Hastings, no run
feisty short ball from Anderson to finish his spell, Hastings hops but keeps his bat inside the line
47.5
1
Anderson to Clarke, 1 run
driven with plenty of wrist and bottom hand, down to long-on
47.4
W
Anderson to Smith, OUT
the disaster that was waiting to happen! Clipped straight to a sliding midwicket fielder, Australian batsmen running all over the place and Haddin is well short of his ground as the throw comes in to Anderson. He and Smith trudge off, heads bowed
Steven Smith run out (Finn/Anderson) 0 (2b 0x4 0x6 3m) SR: 0
47.3
•
Anderson to Smith, no run
defended to cover point
Speaking of injuries, we've just had the news that Ajmal Shahzad and Chris Tremlett are flying back to the UK to continue their rehabilitation - there's been no change in the status of their injuries but they'll continue the healing process back in Blighty
Smith is struggling with a hip injury
47.2
1
Anderson to Clarke, 1 run
a touch of wobble in through the air, Smith drives down the ground ... they think about the two, but no, it'll just be one
47.1
2
Anderson to Clarke, 2 runs
leg-stump full-toss, Clarke could've made more of that. He picks up the single out to long leg
Steven Smith is at the crease now - and so is Brad Haddin, as his runner! Haddin's already found time to have a quick chirp in Anderson's ear. This should be fun. Clarke on strike
end of over 474 runs • 1 wicket
AUS: 314/6CRR: 6.68 • RRR: 6.66
Michael Clarke72 (64b 3x4 1x6)
Steven Finn 9-0-41-2
James Anderson 9-0-87-1
46.6
W
Finn to Hussey, OUT
got him! Finn strikes, after beating the outside edge a couple of times he sends down another slower cutter on a length and this time the ball kisses the edge of Hussey's flailing bat. Straight through to Prior, the celebrations are very muted indeed but that's given England a chance
David Hussey c †Prior b Finn 38 (36b 2x4 1x6 59m) SR: 105.55
46.5
1
Finn to Clarke, 1 run
full pace on the delivery, but now it's a full toss and Clarke slaps him down the ground
46.5
1w
Finn to Clarke, 1 wide
that won't please him, though. Finn aims for a slower-ball bouncer but it's misdirected down the leg side
46.4
•
Finn to Clarke, no run
Finn continues to impress, hitting a great length and beating the outside edge of Clarke's bat now
46.3
1
Finn to Hussey, 1 run
Hussey backs away this time, the ball takes the inside edge and bounces straight to Trott at short fine leg, but they're off for the single straight away
46.2
•
Finn to Hussey, no run
Finn keeps his cool as Hussey charges him, going slightly wider and beating his outside edge
46.1
1
Finn to Clarke, 1 run
low, dipping full-toss and Clarke pushes down to long-on
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