Beardman Takes Six for 24 on Debut as Australia Bowl England Out for 131 and Win by Seven Wickets in Perth
Mahli Beardman produced a fiery spell on his first ODI appearance against England at Perth Stadium on Friday (November 13). He took 6 wickets for just 24 runs, and England were bowled out for 131 under the young pacer's onslaught.
Sent in to bat after losing the toss, England were in trouble from the start. Under pressure from Australia's pacers, the visitors were all out for just 131 in 33.4 overs.
England's batting collapse was started by the two Australian pacers Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett. On Perth's bouncy wicket they kept the English batters under pressure from the beginning.
Opener Ben Duckett went for 9 runs. The other opener, Tom Banton, was out for 25.
Then debutant Beardman took control of the match with the ball. With accurate line and length and swing, the 21-year-old right-arm pacer troubled one English batter after another.
England captain Harry Brook, who made just 1 run, was caught by wicketkeeper Josh Inglis off his bowling. Experienced Joe Root, who made 17, was also caught by Inglis in the same way. Beardman's third victim, Jordan Cox, made just 2 runs.
He then dismissed Sam Curran and Liam Dawson before either could open their account, completing a five-wicket haul on debut. He became the first Australian bowler since Tony Dodemaide in 1988 to take five wickets on ODI debut.
The young pacer did not stop there. He forced Jofra Archer, on 11, to give a catch in the gully and took his sixth wicket. He finished with 6 for 24, demolishing England's batting line-up.
For Australia, Spencer Johnson took 3 wickets for 42 runs and Bartlett took one wicket for 46. Gus Atkinson was England's top scorer, unbeaten on 29.
Chasing an easy target of 132, Australia also suffered an early blow. Atkinson bowled Travis Head with the first ball of the second over; the Australian opener went without opening his account.
Captain Mitchell Marsh recovered from that blow and led the team towards victory. Counter-attacking England's bowlers, he struck a rapid fifty that included four sixes. He was eventually caught on the boundary off Jamie Overton, who took one wicket for 35 runs.
Jofra Archer then dismissed Cooper Connolly, who had made 27. By then the match was fully under Australia's control. Josh Inglis and Matt Renshaw finished the rest, and their unbroken partnership secured a seven-wicket win with 159 balls to spare; Australia reached 132 for 3 in 23.3 overs.
With this win Australia went 1-0 up in the three-match ODI series. The two teams meet in the second ODI in Adelaide next Sunday, and the third and final match will be played in Hobart on Wednesday.
