MELBOURNE – World Cup reject Shaun Marsh’s second one-day international century and a surprising all round performance from Doug Bollinger helped Australia to a 46-run victory over England in their second one-day international in Hobart on Friday.
Australia’s celebrations, however, were tempered with Nathan Hauritz appearing to dislocate his right shoulder and a groin injury to fast bowler Shaun Tait. Both were named in their 15-man World Cup squad earlier this week. Hauritz had been chasing a ball to the boundary at Bellerive Oval when he slid, rolled over and as he put his hand down to push up off the ground collapsed in considerable pain before he walked off and was taken to hospital for X-rays.
Tait limped off shortly afterwards when he grimaced in his follow through on the fifth ball of his sixth over.
Marsh (110), who was only playing in Hobart after Mike Hussey injured his hamstring, combined with Cameron White (45) for a 100-run partnership that steadied Australia after they plunged to 33-4. He also combined for an Australian record ninth-wicket partnership of 88 with Bollinger (30) that pushed the hosts past 200 and gave them a challenging total to defend after their batsmen had struggled with the pace of the pitch.
England’s run chase was always behind the required run rate after the early loss of Matt Prior for a duck and Bollinger’s two wickets in two balls when he had Andrew Strauss trapped in front for 19 and then bowled Kevin Pietersen for a duck.
Bollinger also captured two quick wickets in the tail to finish with figures of four for 28 from nine overs. Australia won the first match of the seven-game series by six wickets in Melbourne last Sunday after Shane Watson scored 161 not out to help them chase down the 295 needed for victory.
