England utilised the conditions to their advantage by demolishing Australia’s top-order but they couldn’t manage to stop Glenn Maxwell, who helped the hosts recover from early jolts and propelled them to 278 in the final of the tri-series at the WACA.
Maxwell stitched a 141-run partnership with Mitchell Marsh for the fifth wicket, when Australia had lost four wickets for just 60 runs on the board. These two, meanwhile, ensured that the former world champions didn’t succumb to the pressure created by the visitors.
James Faulkner, meanwhile, played a blistering innings lower down the order and made an unbeaten 34-ball 50. He ripped apart the English attack and scored boundaries at will in the final overs of the innings and lifted his team well past 275 runs mark.
Earlier, England made use of the new-ball pretty well when James Anderson dismissed Aaron Finch and then David Warner cheaply. Skipper George Baily also failed to put any resistance and was sent packing by Stuart Broad.
Steven Smith was again looked in fine touch but Moeen Ali dismissed him to put Australia in a spot of bother. Meanwhile, Marsh and Maxwell made a superb partnership and revived Aussie innings.
