Australia yet again proved that they are the best in business right now, by handing a thumping 112-run defeat to England in the final of the tri-series at the WACA, Perth.
Glenn Maxwell showed his prowess with both bat and ball and played an instrumental role in Australia’s victory. Mitchell Johnson, meanwhile, also got his mojo back and provided early jolts from which England never recovered.
Johnson took three wickets, while Maxwell finished with four wickets, Josh Hazlewood took two, while James Faulkner finished with one wicket.
Earlier, England utilised the conditions to their advantage by demolishing Australia’s top-order but they couldn’t manage to stop Maxwell, who helped the hosts recover from early jolts and propelled them to 278 in the final.
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 ensured that the former world champions didn’t succumb to the pressure created by the visitors.
James Faulkner 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 to lift his team 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 Bailey also failed to put any resistance and was sent packing by Stuart Broad.
