Jason Roy on fire yet again and other takeaways as England thrash Australia by six wickets in fourth ODI

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  • Jason Roy struck a 81-ball century in England's chase.

    England took one step closer to an ODI series whitewash against arch-rivals Australia after a convincing six-wicket victory in the fourth ODI at Chester-le-Street.

    The comprehensive win over the defending world champions means that Eoin Morgan‘s men have now taken a 4-0 lead in the five-match series. The visitors mustered 310-8 with the bat in their 50 overs after electing to bat first before the hosts chased down the total with a staggering 33 balls to spare.

    We look at the key takeaways from the ODI after yet another impressive display of attacking batting by England.

    AARON FINCH FINALLY COMES TO THE PARTY

    Aaron Finch has had his fair share of struggles in the ODI series after managing to score only 39 runs in three innings coming into Wednesday’s match. The natural opener has bafflingly been batting in the No5 position so far in the series but once he was reinstated to opener, Finch delivered like we all know he can.

    The right-hander was extremely circumspect to start with before he put together a 101-run stand for the first wicket with Travis Head. He took control of the innings post Head’s dismissal and showed why he loves batting against England with his sixth ODI century against the same opposition. Finch’s 11th ODI ton overall was a much-needed boost for the Aussies after their previous defeats and it set up the platform for a massive total for the visitors.

    It begs the question why the 31-year-old had been made to bat so low until Wednesday?

    Aaron Finch enjoyed his return to the opening slot.

    Aaron Finch enjoyed his return to the opening slot.

    SHAUN MARSH SLAMS SECOND TON OF SERIES

    While Finch had given the Australia the start they desperately needed, it was Shaun Marsh who anchored the innings in brilliant fashion before his dismissal.

    The left-hander looked in great touch from the very first ball having registered a classy 131 in the second ODI at Cardiff. Banking on his strong off-side play, the veteran batsman quickly raced away to 95 with the help of four sixes and as many boundaries. He notched up his second ODI century of the series and his fourth overall with a massive six.

    Marsh brought up his ton off just 91 balls as he took Australia near to the 300-run mark. Unfortunately for him, he was dismissed by David Willey the very next ball he faced but his innings had made sure that Australia posted a challenging total.

    Marsh struck his second century of the ODI series.

    Marsh struck his second century of the ODI series.

    MARK WOOD AND DAVID WILLEY TRIGGER LATE AUSSIE COLLAPSE

    While Australia did manage to reach 310-8 in the end, they would have felt that they were easily 30 runs short at least after the platform laid by Finch and Marsh’s tons. With the visitors batting at 225-1 in the 40th over, a 350-run total looked to be on the cards before England’s bowlers fought back valiantly in the death overs.

    It was Mark Wood who got the hosts back in the game by claiming the wickets of Finch and Marcus Stoinis in the 40th over. Then, Willey showed his death-bowling credentials with a sensational 48th over which resulted in three Aussie wickets.

    The left-arm pacer removed Alex Carey and centurion Marsh with consecutive deliveries before dismissing Michael Neser with the last ball of the over. He then returned in the final over of the innings to send back Australia skipper Tim Paine to finish with figures of 4-43 from his seven overs.

    That Australia were able to post only 95 runs at the loss of seven wickets in the final 11 overs after being in such a dominant position proved to be their undoing in the end.

    Wood triggered an Aussie collapse with a double-wicket over.

    Wood triggered an Aussie collapse with a double-wicket over.

    ROY AND BAIRSTOW MAKE MOCKERY OF AUSTRALIA’S TOTAL

    Such has been the imposing form of England’s batsmen in recent times that even a target of 311 runs felt highly sub-par. Australia were going to have to remove the hosts’ in-form openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow early if they were to have even a slight sniff of a victory.

    However, it was not to be as the England openers came out and started striking the ball as cleanly as possible from ball one. It seemed Bairstow and Roy had never left Trent Bridge as they took the attack to the Aussie bowlers in a very similar fashion.

    Roy in particular seemed in ultra-destructive mode as he reached a 82-ball ton with a massive six off Nathan Lyon. The pair put on 174-runs for the opening wicket in under 24 overs and although they fell in quick succession, they had very much knocked the stuffing out of the hapless Aussie bowlers making an England win all but a formality.

    Roy and Bairstow were too hot to handle once again for the Aussies.

    Roy and Bairstow were too hot to handle once again for the Aussies.

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