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It has been a long time coming but England have finally beaten Australia, 71 days after launching their Ashes campaign filled with optimism.
Opener Ed Joyce was England's hero with his maiden One-Day International century helping them put on 292-7 after winning the toss at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia then lost Adam Gilchrist to the first ball of their reply and things went from bad to worse as the world champions were dismissed for 200 all out, with Andrew Symonds retired hurt.
And the result means England now travel to Brisbane to face New Zealand with renewed hope and every chance of reaching the final of the Commonwealth Bank Series alive.
With captain Ricky Ponting rested as a precaution because of a slight side strain, the home side got off to a poor start, with new boy Shaun Tait to blame for dropping a dolly from Joyce on six.
Australia looked jaded in the field without their leader and another let off for Joyce summed up the hosts' problems up, with Symonds this time putting down the catch off his own bowling when the Irishman was on 59.
Spurred on by that bit of luck, the opener put on a steely 111-run second-wicket partnership with Ian Bell (51), as England finally dominated with the bat.
The familiar face of Glenn McGrath finally broke the stand, though, when Bell top edged a pull to Gilchrist.
McGrath had earlier taken great delight at hitting Mal Loye in the grille, with the opener trying to play his signature slog sweep.
Loye required three stitches to repair the wound on his chin, but despite his dismissal the very next ball, England continued to add to the score with Middlesex duo Andrew Strauss (26) and Jamie Dalrymple (30) both adding valuable runs at the end of the innings.
Under pressure and requiring nearly six-an-over, Australia got off to a disastrous start when Gilchrist was clean bowled by Durham paceman Liam Plunkett with the very first ball of the reply.
Brad Hodge soon followed, chopping a delivery from Sajid Mahmood on to his own stumps, and when Michael Clarke slashed a wide one low to wicketkeeper Paul Nixon to make it 45-3 the elusive victory finally appeared possible.
Australia briefly rallied, but having done the hard work in reaching his half-century, Matthew Hayden then holed out to cover off the bowling of Mahmood.
Debutant Ravi Bopara also chipped in with the valuable wicket of 'Mr Cricket' Michael Hussey on his way to figures of 1-19 from four overs.
With Symonds forced to retire because of an arm injury, Cameron White (13) and the tail attempted to put up a fight, but Bell completed a magnificent day for the tourists with a superb piece of fielding to run out last man Tait for 11 and hand England what had seemed the most unlikely of victories.
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Source: BBC Sport |
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