Rain saves England, first Twenty20 abandoned

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: August 31, 2009

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Manchester: Rain spoiled Australia’s chances of a first Twenty20 win in six matches after their series opener against England was washed out at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Australia were well and truly on their way to a win with England struggling at 4 for 2 in the second over chasing a victory target of 146, when heavy rains stopped play.

Australia batted first after Paul Collingwood, captain of England for the Twenty20 matches, won the toss and decided to field. They put up a modest score of 145 for 4 on a tricky pitch thanks to a brilliant effort by Cameron White, who made 55 of just 36 balls.

White, dropped on 12 by debutant Joe Denly, shared a fourth-wicket stand of 78 with Michael Clarke, Australia’s captain in the absence of resting regular skipper Ricky Ponting. The duo came together after England captain Paul Collingwood took two wickets in three balls to leave Australia struggling at 54 for three in the ninth over.

England fielded their 13th opening pair in 22 Twenty20 internationals, but saw Denly and Ravi Bopara manage just one run between them.

Denly, who top-scored with 67 on his one-day international debut as England beat Ireland by three runs in Belfast, fell for a golden duck when, trying to hook Brett Lee, he was beaten for pace and gave a gentle catch to Nathan Hauritz at square leg.

Bopara’s horrendous summer continued as he fell in the second over edging a fast Johnson delivery to Watson at first slip.

The good thing for Australia was that returning fast bowler Brett Lee looked totally fit in the one over that he bowled. He just took three balls to strike in his first international appearance for Australia on this tour after missing the Ashes with a side strain.

Although England needed to bat only for five overs for a result to be declared under the Duckworth-Lewis method for weather-affected fixtures, a fresh burst of rain as the umpires were inspecting the ground prevented play resuming by the scheduled cut-off time.

The second and final match of this series is at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Brief Scores:

Match Abandoned; Australia 145 for 4 (White 55, Collingwood 2-20) v England 4 for 2

Tagged with: Australia, Brett Lee, Cameron White, England, Joe Denly, Manchester, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Old Trafford, Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara, Twenty20

Rain saves England, first Twenty20 abandoned

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