England 308-5 (Roy 180) beat
Australia 304-8 (Finch 107) by five wickets
First One-Day International in Melbourne
Scorecard

Jason Roy registered his career-best score of 180 as England chased down 305 in 48.5 overs with five wickets in hand in the first One-Day International against Australia in Melbourne to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Roy (180) hit four boundaries and two sixes in the first four overs as the 50-run opening stand with Jonny Bairstow (14) off just 26 deliveries. However, Australia pulled back things a bit when Mitchell Starc (2-71) and Pat Cummins (2-63) struck in successive overs to remove Bairstow and Alex Hales (4).

However, Roy continued to play aggressively as he completed a 32-ball fifty and by the end of the first powerplay, England were positioned 87 for two. The introduction of Andrew Tye (0-43), the debutant, slowed things a bit but Roy and Joe Root (91) completed their 50-run stand in the 16th over.

At the halfway mark, England were positioned 155 for two. In the 26th over bowled by Adam Zampa (0-72), Roy was given out LBW but he used a review to overturn the decision as the impact was outside off stump and that followed a celebration for the England opener as he reached his century off 92 deliveries.

Root, who also was fluent at the other completed a well composed half-century and when on 153, Roy went on to become the highest run-scorer for a batsman in a chase in Australia and he soon went past Alex Hales' 171 to record the highest individual score for an England batsman in ODI cricket.

In the last 10 overs, England need just 36 runs with eight wickets in hand. Even though, Australia made a late comeback when Starc and Cummins teamed up to remove both Roy and Eoin Morgan (1) and Stoinis (1-33) accounted for Jos Buttler (4), Root ensured he saw England through the chase with seven deliveries in hand.

Earlier, Australia lost David Warner (2) cheaply and by the 14th over, Steven Smith (23) and Travis Head (5) too departed leaving the home side reeling at 78 for three.

But, Aaron Finch (107) along with half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh (50) and Stoinis (60) helped them recover before a useful 31-ball contribution from Tim Paine (27) helped Australia post 304 for eight in the 50 overs.

Roy without doubt was named the player of the match as England take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The second ODI will be played in Brisbane on 19th January.

© Cricket World 2018