Lords: The first two matches of this ODI series have been similar in many ways. In both the matches Australia were put into bat, they got modest totals and then after being in comfortable positions in both matches, England threw it away on both occasions!

Australia once again exploited England’s lack of power hitters as they beat the hosts in the second ODI by 39 runs and took a 2-0 lead in the 7-match series. Chasing a modest total of 250 to win, England were bowled out for 210 even after they were given a very good start by Strauss and Bopara with the opening pair adding 74 for the first wicket.

Earlier, being put into bat, Australia were given a decent start by Shane Watson and Tim Paine as they added 62 for the first wicket. But they lost some quick wickets and went from being 62-0 to 155-5.

But their saviour from the last match, Callum Ferguson, again stood up when it was needed. He made 55 and Mitchell Johnson finished it off well with a 23-ball 43 to help Australia set up a reasonable total of 249-8. In fact, it was Johnson’s innings which proved to be decisive in the end. Australia was 208-8 at one stage when Johnson and Hauritz came together. They didn’t look like using up their allocation, but Johnson swung powerfully to club 43 from 23 balls and add 41 off the last 4.2 overs with Nathan Hauritz.

England had been progressing well in response to Australia’s 249 for eight wickets but Shane Watson’s introduction into the attack started a spell of four wickets in 33 deliveries that derailed the chase. England picked up the scoring rate after its sluggish batting cost it a four-run loss at The Oval but was undone by the middle order’s inability to build big partnerships.

Other than an opening stand of 74 between Ravi Bopara and Strauss, England’s best partnership was 36 for the eighth wicket between Graeme Swann and Collingwood, who became the fifth Englishman after Alec Stewart, Marcus Trescothick, Graham Gooch and Allan Lamb to score 4,000 one-day runs.

England kept losing wickets at regular intervals and apart from Collingwood (56) and Strauss (47), no England batsman looked comfortable at the crease. For Australia, Brett Lee looked like coming back to his best picking up 2-22 from 8.1 overs. Bracken, Johnson and Watson also picked up 2 wickets each.

The teams now head to Southampton for the third game in the seven-match series on Wednesday.

Brief Scores:

Australia 249 for 8 (Ferguson 55, Johnson 43*, Wright 2-52) beat England 210 (Collingwood 56, Lee 2-22, Watson 2-26) by 39 runs

Man of the Match: Mitchell Johnson

Tagged with: Andrew Strauss, Australia, Callum Ferguson, England, Lord's, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, NatWest Series, Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara, Shane Watson

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