© 2004 - 2006 CAITE
All rights reserved.

Martyn ensures first blood

Source: The Sunday Telegraph - October 22, 2006

Damien Martyn celebrated his 35th birthday with a fluent half-century to script Australia's crucial six-wicket Champions Trophy win over England today.

Martyn scored a solid 78 as Australia overcame a triple blow to surpass England's modest total of 169, with 13.1 overs to spare, and keep alive its hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Australia was reeling at 3-34 before Martyn restored its fortunes with a quality knock to ensure the superb efforts of pacemen Shane Watson (3-16) and Mitchell Johnson (3-40) did not go to waste.

England is out of contention after suffering its second successive defeat in the four-team Group A. It takes on West Indies in its last league game at Ahmedabad next Saturday.

India and West Indies have one win apiece from one match, and Australia one victory from two, with the top two sides advancing to the semi-finals.

"It was a great performance. We did not get off to a great start with the ball or bat and it ends up being a very, very comfortable win," said Ricky Ponting.

"We've worked hard from the time we have been here. After the result the other night, we came here with a nothing-to-lose attitude and it has paid off for us.

"The bowlers, particularly, did a tremendous job in the middle of the innings, Watson and Johnson were outstanding."

Ponting said Martyn was under no pressure to retain his spot, despite struggling during last year's 2-1 Ashes series reverse.

"I'm sure Damien was quite pumped to get out there and play the way he did. Certainly in my eye he hasn't been under any pressure.

"He is a valuable, vital player. Coming in at No.4, you need to be a certain sort of player and tonight we saw how good Damien is."

Martyn, named man-of-the-match, was delighted to prove a point against England.

"We've been waiting for this game for a long time. Since we left England, we've been looking to get back and we enjoyed today. It was a nice batting wicket and it was nice to get some some runs," he said.

Australia lost Adam Gilchrist (10), skipper Ricky Ponting (one) and Watson (21) in the space of four runs when the game resumed after a 10-minute break due to power failure.

Sajid Mahmood grabbed two wickets and fellow-paceman James Anderson one before running into Martyn, who drove beautifully on both sides of the wicket to end England's early celebrations in the day-nighter.

Martyn raced to his 36th half-century off 35 balls with nine fours, including three in one over off key fast bowler Steve Harmison who conceded 45 runs from 4.5 overs.

The Australia middle-order batsman added 118 for the fourth wicket with Michael Hussey, who played a supporting role, hitting an unbeaten 32.

Martyn's birthday coincided with Diwali, the country's biggest Hindu festival marked by fireworks, and there were fireworks on the field as the West Australian executed breathtaking shots during his 91-ball knock.

Australia was indebted to Watson and lef -arm fast bowler Johnson for restricting England in its big clash before the Ashes, beginning in Brisbane next month.

England, put into bat, looked like setting a stiff target when Andrew Strauss (56) and Ian Bell (43) added 83 for the opening wicket on a slow track.

Ten wickets then fell for 86 runs, with Watson and Johnson each taking three and veteran fast bowler Glenn McGrath two.

McGrath conceded 27 runs in his opening four overs, but came back strongly to finish with 2-36 off nine.

Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist brilliantly supported his pacemen with five catches, including his 350th in one-day internationals.

Paul Collingwood (22 not out) and last-man Anderson (15) were the other batsmen to reach double-figures in a dismal England batting performance.

Watson provided the breakthrough with his second ball when he had make-shift opener Bell caught by Hussey in the cover. His dismissal was the beginning of the end of England's innings.

It suffered a twin setback when free-stroking batsmen Kevin Pietersen (one) and Andrew Flintoff (four) fell in quick succession to leave the team wobbling at 3-110.

Johnson had Pietersen caught by Gilchrist, while skipper Flintoff was caught pulling by Hussey at deep mid-wicket just a ball after being struck on the helmet by Watson.

Flintoff has batted at two different positions in as many games, but has yet to click. He fell for a seven-ball duck against India at No.3, but lasted only 15 balls batting at No.4 here.

Australia kept striking at regular intervals to eventually neutralise England's early advantage.

Bell, dropped on 23 by Martyn off McGrath, hit seven fours in his 60-ball knock, while Strauss hit six fours in his 12th half-century before being caught behind off spinner Andrew Symonds.

- MAOJ VATSYAYANA