Warner counters Morgan ton to lead Aussies to big win

(MENAFN- Arab News) SYDNEY: Australian opener David Warner led his team to an emphatic three-wicket win over England in the opening one-day international of the triangular series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.The powerful left-hander's commanding century canceled out a long overdue ton by new England skipper Eoin Morgan to help the Australians earn a bonus point for reaching the target inside 40 overs.Morgan's lone hand of 121 off 136 balls with 11 fours and three sixes enabled England to recover from a disastrous start to make 234 in 47.5 overs.Warner then made 127 breaking his own drought with his first one-day international ton since back-to-back hundreds against Sri Lanka in 2012 as Australia cruised to the victory target with 61 balls to spare finishing on 235 for seven from 39.5 overs.Warner faced 115 balls hitting 18 fours and fell when just eight runs were needed to win and Australia was chasing the bonus point.England have now won just three of their last 14 one-day internationals as they head toward next month's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.In the first match of the triangular series which also features India Morgan won the toss in his first game as skipper since replacing Alastair Cook and elected to bat.His sixth one-day century for England helped the tourists put on a defendable total before being dismissed in 47.5 overs.Morgan was the only England batsman to score over 30.The century ended a dry run for Morgan as it was his first century in his past 20 one-day innings which had included just one prior half-century.He brought up his ton by lofting James Faulkner (3-47) over cover from the 127th ball he faced having hit nine fours and two sixes.Morgan had to save the innings after a top-order collapse and strode to the wicket with his side in strife at 12 for three.The home side struck with the very first ball with Ian Bell trapped lbw by left-armer Mitchell Starc for a duck.Worse was to come for England when Bell's replacement at the crease James Taylor was also adjudged lbw for a duck two balls later.Morgan arrived after Joe Root was caught by Shane Watson from the bowling of Pat Cummins for just five.The captain was eventually the ninth man to fall in the push for late runs holing out to Glenn Maxwell at deep mid-wicket from the bowling of Starc in the 48th over.The England innings was wrapped up one ball later when Steven Finn was clean bowled by a Starc yorker.Starc finished the innings with 4-42 from 8.5 overs and claimed man-of-the-match honors.SCOREBOARDEngland innings:I. Bell lbw Starc 0M. Ali c Maxwell b Faulkner 22J. Taylor lbw Starc 0J. Root c Watson b Cummins 5E. Morgan c Maxwell b Starc 121R. Bopara c Maxwell b Doherty 13J. Buttler c Warner b Faulkner 28C. Woakes c Smith b Maxwell 8C. Jordan c Maxwell b Faulkner 17S. Broad not out 0S. Finn b Starc 0Extras: 20Total: (47.5 overs) 234.Fall of wkts: 1-0 2-0 3-12 4-33 5-69 6-136 7-168 8-224 9-234 10-234.Bowling: Starc 8.5-0-42-4 Cummins 9-1-42-1 Watson 4-0-23-0 Faulkner 10-1-47-3 Maxwell 6-0-37-1 Doherty 10-0-38-1Australia innings:D. Warner c Bell b Woakes 127A. Finch b Woakes 15S. Watson c Woakes b Jordan 16S. Smith b Ali 37G. Bailey c Buttler b Woakes 10G. Maxwell c Buttler b Woakes 0B. Haddin run out (Bopara) 16J. Faulkner not out 6M. Starc not out 0Extras: 8Total: (for 7 wkts; 39.5 overs) 235Fall of wkts: 1-33 2-71 3-158 4-199 5-200 6-227 7-233.Bowling: Woakes 8-1-40-4 Finn 8-1-48-0 Broad 6.5-0-49-0 Jordan 6-0-33-1 Ali 9-0-45-1 (1w) Bopara 2-0-13-0.