4th ODI tri-series: Australia vs England - As it happened...

Welcome to the live updates in the match between Australia and England in the ODI tri-series in Hobart.

MATCH REPORT

LIVE SCORE

.@stevesmith49 claims the MoM award for his match winning 102* from just 95 balls #AusvEng pic.twitter.com/YxuQ3BEGc9 — ICC (@ICC) January 23, 2015

Well played @CricketAus encouraging signs for @ECB_cricket team they are improving all the time ! — andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) January 23, 2015

Steve Smith is the hero again leading @CricketAus to a 3 wicket victory over England in the Tri Series #AusvEng pic.twitter.com/CiDC0SAaNF — ICC (@ICC) January 23, 2015

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

OVERS 49.5// RUNS 304// WICKETS 7

Henriques defends the first ball off Woakes before failing to get a run off the next ball and Smith who wanted a run was sent back. Henriques then tries to get off strike and is run out. Morgan with the throw there. What a waste of an innings by Henriques, similar to Bopara. Smith gets a run through the on side and gets the scores level. Starc faces Stokes and gets a single to hit the winning run.

OVERS 49// RUNS 302// WICKETS 6

Anderson doesn't allow Henriques any run in the first three balls before the latter gets a two through the leg side. 300 runs come up for the hosts. Henriques gets a single through mid-on. 

OVERS 48// RUNS 299// WICKETS 6

Smith gets to his hundred. He becomes the first batsman to get a ton in both Tests and ODIs after debuting as a skipper in both formats. Haddin then fails to read a slower ball and gives a catch to Bell off Woakes. Henriques comes in to bat. and keeps strike. 5 runs needed.

BJ Haddin c Bell b Woakes 42 (29b)

OVERS 47// RUNS 295// WICKETS 5

Haddin places one above and high and Finn runs behind before jumping to get a hold of that one. Good try by the tall pacer. Smith hits a huge six through long on boundary. The ball cleared the distance and went miles high. He gets two runs after placing a ball through the leg side. He keeps strike after slapping a ball through fine leg area. On 99!

OVERS 46// RUNS 283// WICKETS 5

Haddin flicks a shot and it sails one bounce to the boundary. He then charges and places one through the off side, getting vital three runs. Smith moves into the 90s after getting  run through the on side. 11 runs come from the over and Aussies are nearing victory.

OVERS 45// RUNS 272// WICKETS 5

Haddin gets Smith into strike and the latter places one through mid-wicket region to get a run. Haddin hits a huge six off Finn over the long on fielder. He then gets a four one bounce over the ropes through the mid wicket region. 50-run partnership comes up. A single follows as Finn bowls a good short ball. 

OVERS 44// RUNS 259// WICKETS 5

Broad shortens the length and Haddin opens the face of the bat and gets a four through the vacant third man area. Haddin places a ball to the fence past point and gets another four. Haddin flicks one away for a single to keep Australia's run chase well in balance. Nine runs come from the over.

OVERS 43// RUNS 250// WICKETS 5

250 runs come up for Australia. Haddin slaps Finn through mid-wicket as the fielder in the boundary line saves an important run. Four run comes from the over.

OVERS 42// RUNS 246// WICKETS 5

Smith cuts a loose delivery from Broad for a four. He then gets a two after flicking down the leg side. Haddin fails to get a run off the last ball. 

OVERS 41// RUNS 239// WICKETS 5

Smith packs a punch off Anderson in the first ball of the over to get a four. Seven runs come from the over before Woakes bowls decently keeping it simple and basic. Aussies are happy to get singles and twos. Finn gives away nine runs with tow threes being taken. The over had a close call for a run out but Finn missed the stumps. 

OVERS 38// RUNS 220// WICKETS 5

Australia had got the run-rate going well with getting important odd fours every over. The duo at the crease forged in a fifty-run partnership before Woakes gets Faulkner and Bell takes a catch. The batsman tried to play away from the body and got a leading edge to Bell. Faulkner goes for 35. Powerplay overs can be a trump card for bowlers. Haddin is the new man in. Smith gets three runs off Woakes after the latter drifted on to the pads and it was easy pickings. Anderson saves a vital run. The required run-rate has creeped over 7. 

JP Faulkner c Bell b Woakes 35 (43b)

OVERS 34// RUNS 197// WICKETS 4

Finn then concedes runs as Faulkner gets three before hitting him for a four off the last ball of the over. Ali signs of with his spell after allowing five singles from his over. Smith has batted really well and got to his fifty. Finn continues, Smith and Faulkner get the scorecard ticking. Six come from his over.

OVERS 31// RUNS 176// WICKETS 4

Broad gives away a four to Faulkner who pushes a ball between the cover and mid-off fielder. Ali then bowls a good over and continues to impress tightening the run-flow. Broad then keeps it tight as well giving away just two runs before Faulkner gets another boundary off Ali. Australia are still on the driving seat here with Haddin and Henriques next.

OVERS 27// RUNS 161// WICKETS 4

Finn got the two crucial breakthroughs for England. He removed Marsh for 45 before dampening White's comeback. White got out for a nought. Smith meanwhile, has settled in well and got into a good partnership with Maxwell before Moeen got the latter get caught in the deep. Just inches away from a maximum, after a loose delivery.

GJ Maxwell c Root b Ali 37 (38b)

C White lbw b Finn 0

S Marsh c Bell b Finn 45

OVERS 14// RUNS 85// WICKETS 1

Broad bowls a good over, conceding just two runs. He concentrates on back of a length and Marsh is happy to defend. Ali then gives away six singles.

OVERS 12// RUNS 76// WICKETS 1

The runs have continued to come at a brisk rate as Marsh and Finch are really batting well. Broad has produced the occasional brilliance but has leaked runs at will. Anderson too hasn't found much in this batting track. Ali is brought into the attack and starts off well before getting Finch who tries to hover him for a slog and misses the ball to get bowled. Smith comes in.

AJ Finch b Ali 32 (32b)

OVERS 6// RUNS 42// WICKETS 0

Anderson leaks another boundary as Finch punches through extra-cover. Six runs come from the over. Woakes' poor beginnning continues as Marsh gets another boundary through the off side. Seven runs come. Anderson doesn't give anything from the first three deliveries before Marsh gets a two working off his pads. A single follows before Marsh defends the final ball. 

OVERS 3// RUNS 26// WICKETS 0

Anderson shares the new ball with Woakes and he starts off badly. Wrong selection of line and after a wide he gives away an easy boundary through the leg side to Marsh. Marsh then takes the stage and pelts Woakes for three superb boundaries back to back. The first two shots were through mid-on and mid-wicket region and the next were through covers. Flier!

OVERS 1// RUNS 5// WICKETS 0

England will hope to bowl well and get over the disappointment with the batting towards the end. Woakes starts with the proceedings and well Finch punishes him for a four off the first ball. He then gives the strike to Marsh who sees out the over.

ENGLAND INNINGS

Last 5 overs saw England score 27 runs and lose three wickets with a poor RR of 5.40

OVERS 46// RUNS 303// WICKETS 8

England manage to crawl to the 300-run mark after Buttler heroics sees them get past the figure. Starc bowls an amaxing last over as he gets the out of sorts Ravi Bopara whose terrible time at the crease comes to an end. Buttler and Woakes get run out off the last two balls to see three scalps off final three balls.

JC Buttler run out 25 (24b)

RS Bopara b Starc 7 (16b)

OVERS 46// RUNS 278// WICKETS 5

Starc comes back and well he doesn't give away anything. Bopara manages just a two in the entire over. Pressure situation here.

OVERS 45// RUNS 276// WICKETS 5

England lose Root at a crucial situation in the match. Cummins gets the wicket. Bopara comes in and five runs come from a good over.

JE Root c Finch b Cummins 69 (70b) 

OVERS 44// RUNS 271// WICKETS 4

Root is the key here for England and he justifies that. He hits a sublime shot through the leg side boundary for four. Six runs come from Cummins' over. Now Buttler gets into the act after being lucky on a shot that goes to the third-man boundary for four. Root then plays a reverse slap shot and gets a four. Good for England this.

OVERS 42// RUNS 254// WICKETS 4

What an over here by Sandhu. Firstly he gets the centurion Bell and then the next ball he sends Morgan off the first ball the latter faced. Buttler comes in. Two runs come from the over.

​EJG Morgan c Haddin b Sandhu 0 (1b)

IR Bell c Starc b Sandhu 142 (125b)

OVERS 41// RUNS 252// WICKETS 2

Eight runs come from Faulkner's over with Bell getting a crucial boundary off the last ball. Nice shot through third man area. Root gets the strike to Bell who whips Cummins over mid-off for four. Root then gets to his fifty. 10 runs come from the over. Faulkner continues and Bell smashes a ball through the point area and gets three runs. Seven runs in these circumstances are valuable. Cummins gives away another six as Bell gets a top edge for six. Good comeback from the Aussie quick after being hit for a six. Three dot balls and two singles. 

OVERS 37// RUNS 219// WICKETS 2

Sandhu keeps pace with his decent line and length bowling after conceding just four singles. Root and Bell then gets the tempo sailing after picking up some vitals twos to get suix runs from Starc's over. Sandhu then goes off colour as Bell reigns supreme here after smashing a shot to the fence through the leg side area. Eight runs come. Root is nearing towards his fifty.

OVERS 34// RUNS 201// WICKETS 2

England are moving nicely here. Henriques concedes six runs that had four singles and a two. Nice strike roataton from the duo at the crease. Cummins then bowls a loose ball and Bell gfets on top of that to cut it through point and third man for four. Starc gets the ball and Root scores a lucky boundary through the third man area. Root then hits another to the square-leg fence for four. Nice innings this from the sensational youngster. England bring up the 200-run mark.

OVERS 31// RUNS 177// WICKETS 2

Starc bowls a pretty tight over for just three runs with Root and Bell happy to get the singles. Sandhu then gives away a boundary to Root who cuts a shot around the third man region. Eight runs come from the over. Starc then bowls a loose one which sees Root get his 2nd four off the leg side. Eight runs are conceded as England are batting well here. Meanwhile, Sandhu has again looked good bowling back of a length to give away just three runs. Henriques is brought back and he too throws in a good over. Bell then gets a single off Cummins' over to get to his fourth hundred of his career. Well batted. 

OVERS 25// RUNS 150// WICKETS 2

Two wickets have fallen with Ali and Taylor gone back to the hut. Bell emanwhile is in the 90's and is looking to seal a century. Faulkner got Ali for 46 and Henriques proved his vitality to send Taylor back for 5. New man in is Joe Root.

JWA Taylor c Faulkner b Henriques 5 (14b)

M ALi c sub (XJ Doherty) b Faulkner 46

OVERS 14// RUNS 87// WICKETS 0

Sandhu has bowled decent all day. Again he is right at the money and concedes only three runs. Maxwell is in and well Bell plays a reverse sweep for four. Severn runs come from his first over. Sandhu has concentrated more on a back of a length balls and that has been his key to good bowling. Three runs come again. Faulkner then is the new bowler and he allows just three runs with Bell getting to his fifty.

OVERS 9// RUNS 66// WICKETS 0

Bell drives Cummins for three runs through mid-on. Three singles come more as six runs are given in the over. Sandhu then balls a tidy over for three runs. Ali is on song here after watching Bell take all the charge so far. He thrashes Cummins for three consecutive sixes in the leg side over square leg.

OVERS 6// RUNS 39// WICKETS 0

Starc concedes a single to Ali in the first ball and then Bell plays another shot to the boundary for four runs. Sandhu is brought in Bell plays a sublime on-drive for four. Classy batting from the Englishman this.

OVERS 4// RUNS 28// WICKETS 0

Bell punches one through backward point and cover as the ball was in the air and it's a four. Another boundary through cover, good shot this. Last ball of the over and Bell nicks one through the slips for four. Ali then gets a single off Cummins and Bell once again is in business. He flicks one through the leg side before playing a cut shot for four. Nine runs come from the over.

OVERS 2// RUNS 7// WICKETS 0 

Starc starts with the proceedings as Moenn Ali faces him. Third ball of the over and Ali flicks one to square leg for four. Only four runs come. Cummins then sees Bell get two leading edges one over cover and the other falling short of third man. Three runs come. Cautious start this.

Australia have won the toss and elected to field first.

Australia Team
C White, AJ Finch, SE Marsh, SPD Smith*, GJ Maxwell, BJ Haddin, MC Henriques, JP Faulkner, MA Starc, PJ Cummins, GS Sandhu

England Team
IR Bell, MM Ali, JWA Taylor, JE Root, EJG Morgan*, RS Bopara, JC Buttler, CR Woakes, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, ST Finn

Umpires: Marais Erasmus(RSA), Simon Fry(Aus)

Third Umpire: John Ward(Aus)

Match Referee: Andy Pycroft(Zim)
 

Hobart: Its three key players, including skipper George Bailey, would be missing in action but the Australian cricket team would look to seal a place in the ODI tri-series final when it clashes with a confident England, here on Friday.

The hosts are placed comfortably at top with two wins from as many matches but their line up will be without Bailey, who has been suspended for the team's slow over rate, all-rounder Shane Watson and David Warner -- due to hamstring issues.

England had lost to Australia in the opening match but the British side outplayed India in the next game and will surely fancy its chances against the hosts.

One more win will ensure Australia's passage into the February 1 final in Perth and stand-in skipper Steven Smith would look to carry forward his impressive Test leadership to this format too.

A victory for England will make it wide open and then all three teams will have a chance to make the summit clash.

Australia were dominant against England in the first match and also for a major part of the contest against India, thanks to impressive show by their batsmen as well as bowlers.

However, England looked much better and competitive against India and the Britons would believe that they can exploit the absence of regular members of the squad.

Left-hander Shaun Marsh will replace Warner at the top and Cameron White also comes into the side. There is no doubt about Marsh's skills as a top-order batsman and England bowlers will have to work hard to get him.

It remains to be seen if Mitchell Marsh is also drafted into the side.

For England, their batsmen struck form in the second match against India but in that contest they were under no pressure, chasing a mere 154.

Their bowlers, led by Steven Finn, though were impressive as they blew away a strong Indian batting line up. The Australians are best accustomed to play on the bouncy tracks in home conditions so it won't be easy for the England bowlers.

Moeen Ali though can pose a few questions to Australians, who indeed look in trouble while facing Indian spinners. Ali did extremely well against the Indians, who are masters of playing spin, and the off-spinner will pose a good challenge to the home batsmen.

Paceman Steven Finn was exceptional against India and he single-handedly triggered the batting collapse with his maiden fifer. The performance would inspire him to yet again bowl England to a winning position.

Matched evenly on paper, the two Ashes rivals are set to deliver a crackling contest.

Teams (from):

Australia: George Bailey (captain), Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson, Gurinder Sandhu.

England: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.