LONDON, (Reuters) – Mike Hussey and Shaun Tait led Australia to a 42-run victory in the fifth and final one-day international at Lord’s yesterday as England won the series 3-2.
Hussey hammered 79 in 60 balls as the visitors totalled 277 for seven before Tait produced some lightning-fast bowling to take four for 48 and help bowl England out for 235.
Paul Collingwood fought a lone battle for the home team with 95 and when he was bowled by another quick, full-length delivery from Tait their hopes evaporated.
Tait’s first spell was one of the fastest seen at the home of cricket, with the speedometer reading 100.1-mph in his first over.
“There are days when you know very early you are in decent shape and this was one of those days,” man of the match Tait told reporters.
“I have bowled over 160-kph (100-mph) three times in my career and this would probably be the quickest … and the ball was swinging as well.” England won the first three matches but lost the last two as Australia restored some confidence for the Ashes test series that starts in November.
“This win was important for us. I had every confidence we could bounce back (from 3-0 down),” said skipper Ricky Ponting. “England probably outplayed us in the first three games so it was probably a fair result.
PIETERSEN BLOW
“Shaun has clocked 100-mph today and there are not many who can do that. He has been the quickest bowler in the world for some time.” England suffered a blow when Kevin Pietersen injured his thigh while fielding and he later had to bat with a runner for his four-ball duck.
Pietersen could now be a fitness doubt for the forthcoming one-day series against Bangladesh.
Tait, who has retired from tests to prolong his career after a series of injuries, removed captain Andrew Strauss (6) and Michael Yardy (duck) inside three balls to reduce England to 19 for two.
Strauss lost his off stump after Tait got the ball to swing back into him while fellow left-hander Yardy, promoted up the order because of Pietersen’s injury, played no stroke and was bowled by a quick, in-swinging delivery.
“He was pretty quick today and he got the ball swinging as well which makes it harder,” Strauss said of Tait.
“We never look at numbers as batsmen but he would be the fastest I have ever faced along with Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee.” Earlier, Australia clawed their way back into the game after a slow start by smashing 130 in the final 11 overs thanks to Hussey and Shaun Marsh who scored 59 in 50 deliveries.
Marsh was brought into the side after Michael Clarke pulled out with a back problem.
