I had a very enjoyable day at the SWALEC to enjoy a game of fluctuating fortunes before England nicked it in the final over. The sunshine and temperatures were autumnal but at least the 4th ODI took place on the day in between two very wet ones and a near- full house enjoyed almost 100 hours of intriguing cricket which left the series poised at one-all with one to play.
Few of those I'd seen at Oval Test last month were playing in Cardiff, but it didn't matter, especially when England's three survivors were part of an uwanted piece of history. ANyway, back to the beginning when a wild opener from Steven Finn was followed by a full in-swinger which trapped Aarn Finch plumb LBW for 0. Shane Watson made only six before Michael Clarke and Shaun Marsh steadied the ship. It wasn't an easy ride because Finn and his almost equally tall partner Boyd Rankin were constantly beating the bat. So, too, was Ben Stokes, consistently bowling at 85mph+.
It was clear that Australia would need to target the spinner(s) when Eoin Morgan deigned to risk Tredwell and Root, and that's what happened. George Bailey had played himself in and, when joined by Matthew Wade, they took the opportunity to up the tempo somewhat. with a 250+ score now possible, Wade fell to a miscued hook, and the innings disintegrated. Bailey struck three towering straight sixes on his way to 87 when he feathered a catch to Buttler. From 209-5, Australia slumped to 227 all out and England looked the more likely winners.
When Pietersen flicked a leg-side boundary in the first over, it looked as if Morgan's side would take charge and I'd be home by 5 o'clock! Then came the third over. Clint McKay's first ball was missed by KP and the LBW decision was an easy one. In came Jonathan Trott who inexplicably followed a wide one and edged to Finch at second slip. On a hat-trick, McKay then induced another edge off a tentative drive by Joe Root. It just about carried to Watson at slip. Cue great jubilations from the men in yellow, and the crowd went silent.
Morgan came down the steps in his usual calm fashion but he and Carberry were given a real tough time by the five-strong seam attack, which looked a good decision by the selectors. McKay bowled another two maidens while Mitch Johnson delivered a number of very quick deliveries, one timed at 94.4mph. Even from square-on in the stands, I could pick the exceptional balls but when he bowled short, Carberry in particular looked extremely vulnerable. After 20 overs, England were floundering at just 51-3 yet in this T20 era, six an over to win is not as difficult as it once may have been. This batting line-up also packs a powerful punch down to eight and that made the difference at the end. Morgan and Carberry reached their 50s in quick succession, notchnig a century stand in the process before the skipper chopped on to his stumps on 53.
The Hampshire man followed three overs later. An unconvincing innings at times but he lasted to make a decent 63. Ravi Bopara never looked comfortable and Jos Buttler was fortunate to win his DRS appeal when the big screen showing the ball missig he off stump by a fraction. However, that reprieve, together with the arrival of Ben Stokes, changed England's fortunes dramatically. Needing more than 7 an over from the last 11 overs, some crunching shots were called for and these two were more than capable. Forty came from overs 40 to 43 as the Somerset 'keeper took control. Stokes' departure with nine still needed brought jitters to the crowd as Tredwell survived some dot-balls from McKay. Seven from the last over and Buttler on strike. The first ball from Johnson was despatched out of the ground and suddenly it was all over. A dispirited-looking Clarke brought his field shuffling in close but Buttler simply crashed it stight ov erthem for the winning boundary.
Not as many runs as his ODI best last week, but this time he took the responsibility for a run chase and it was successful. Rankin had an excellent game, but Jos took the Man of the Match award and his future possibly moving further away from his home county. That would be a severe blow to Somerset but he is looking the real deal as a number six or seven in England's 50-over squad.
