Gritty England seal thriller to win series 4-1

A gritty England played the role of party pooper to perfection with a thrilling 12-run victory over Australia in the historic opening of the new Perth Stadium on Sunday (January 28).

In front of a sellout crowd of 53,781, a record for a sports event in Perth, England defended a seemingly modest 260 with aplomb to cap off a dominant 4-1 One-Day International series victory. Behind a pyrotechnics show from new No.3 Marcus Stoinis, Australia were cruising at 189 for 4 before crumbling against brilliant bowling from England's eclectic attack. They appeared dead and buried at 203-8 before a valiant effort from Tim Paine (34) almost conjured a miraculous victory for the hosts. But he was bowled by Tom Curran in the 49th over for England to register a memorable victory.

Curran (5 for 35) and off-spinner Moeen Ali (3 for 55) starred for England, who stole the show in the much anticipated unveiling of the (AUD) $1billion stadium.

Stoinis appeared to be guiding Australia to a second straight consolation victory before he holed out to fall short of his second ODI century. He hit a brilliant 99-ball 87 but his dismissal restored England's belief with Australia still 71 runs short of victory with just five wickets left. Soon after, recalled allrounder Glenn Maxwell (34) fell lbw to Curran on a reversed DRS decision and Mitchell Starc followed just two balls later.

Stoinis had stabilised another wobbly top-order Australian batting, which was marked by further failures from captain Steve Smith and deputy David Warner, whose miserable series ended with a whimper when he was bowled by a full Tom Curran delivery to fall for 15 in the fourth over. The explosive left-hander finished the series with just 73 runs at 14.6.

Despite Warner's setback, Australia were cruising before in-form Travis Head, who was dropped in a sitter of a chance by Jonny Bairstow at first slip on 4, was brilliantly run out by captain Eoin Morgan's direct throw and moments later Smith survived a close stumping call first ball as the match tightened.

Like Warner, Smith's wretched ODI run continued when he was stumped off Moeen to fall for just 12 to finish with an eyesore of a series average of 20 as the match was suddenly delicately poised with Australia at 119 for 3 in the 22nd over.

Moeen turned the game in England's favour with a spectacular one-handed catch to dismiss local favourite Mitchell Marsh (13) to leave Australia wobbling at 133 for 4. The stage was set for Maxwell, who has endured a turbulent summer after being continually overlooked and criticised by Smith over his training habits.

From the get go, Maxwell looked assured and played smartly in a determined effort to quell the critics but was unable to steer his team anywhere near the finish line.

A bright spot for Australia was the encouraging performance of the emerging Stoinis. In what is becoming a revolving door for Australia's troubled No.3 position, Stoinis was given an opportunity after the axing of veteran batsman Cameron White in what could be a death knell for the Victorian.

With Australia aiming to replicate England's successful formula of packing the batting order, the hard-hitting Stoinis was given a promotion and showcased his firepower from the get go with several lusty blows, including a massive blow of 119m into the second tier.

Earlier, completing the series trend, Smith won the toss and elected to bowl on an unknown drop-in wicket. There was a huge roar from the masses when Starc steamed into bowl but Jason Roy blunted the excitement with a clip through square leg as the openers ran four. Amid the new surrounds, Smith opted for two slips with the pitch featuring notable tinges of grass.

There were hopes that the pitch could replicate the WACA's famed bouncy deck and, in the fourth over, a length delivery from Josh Hazlewood reared and flew over wicketkeeper Paine to the boundary.

The first six at the new ground came in the third over when game one hero Roy bludgeoned a straight drive before he was seemingly undone the very next ball and caught behind. However, in a major reprieve for the dynamic opener, Starc overstepped and Roy continued to dominate the early proceedings through his white hot blade as he scored 38 of England's opening 46 runs.

Roy, who had struggled as the series wore on, continued to attack brazenly but eventually his luck ran out when he was outfoxed by local favourite Andrew Tye (5 for 46) to fall for an entertaining 46-ball 49.

Bairstow and Alex Hales picked up the slack as England motored to 117 for 1 inside 20 overs. With a perfect platform laid, England appeared set for a massive total before being pulled back in the middle overs. England have become masters in the middle overs with their ultra-aggressive style continuing through the normally lethargic period of an ODI innings but their momentum was stymied against probing Australian bowling.

Marsh, who has struggled with his bowling since suffering a major shoulder injury last year, found a nagging rhythm and claimed the vital wickets of Hales (35) and Morgan (3) as England dipped to 157 for 4.

Despite the stutter, England continued to put the foot down with Jos Buttler (21) landing some hefty blows before being undone by Tye, who was enjoying the two-paced wicket. Joe Root, such a steadying influence all series, propped up the innings but lacked support amid an England lower-order missing in-form allrounder Chris Woakes.

England's lower order struggled against Tye's trickery, who deservedly bagged his first five-wicket haul at the international level much to the delight of his fellow compatriots. In another welcome tonic for Australia, legspinner Adam Zampa bowled with precision and menace to be a constant handful in a well-balanced bowling performance for an attack missing star quick Pat Cummins, who was a late withdrawal with a hamstring complaint.

It was a deserved gripping match to open the much-hyped glitzy Perth Stadium.

Brief scores: England 259 in 47.4 overs (Joe Root 62, Jason Roy 49; Andrew Tye 5-46, Mitchell Marsh 2-24) beat Australia 247 in 48.2 overs (Marcus Stoinis 87, Glenn Maxwell 34; Tom Curran 5-35, Moeen Ali 3-55) by 12 runs