Trott gives England hope

Batsman hits 102 as tourists deny hosts a series-clinching win on Australia Day and put seven-match series at 3-1.

Trott
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Trott’s performance with bat and ball gave England a chance to recover in the one-day series [AFP] 

Jonathan Trott scored a century and took his first one-day international wicket as England kept the series alive at 3-1 by beating Australia by 21 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

Trott made 102 of England’s impressive 299 for eight, then capped his night when he had David Hussey caught by Ian Bell for 28 in the 35th over just as the home side looked set for a late push for a series-clinching win on Australia Day.

Cameron White was then caught by Michael Yardy in the deep off Trott’s slow medium pacers for 44, after White and Steve Smith had also begun to build a promising partnership.

Australia, who finished on 278 for seven on Wednesday, had won the first three of the seven-match series, which both sides are using to finalise their preparations for the World Cup.

Trott and Matt Prior (67) had anchored England’s innings with a 113-run partnership off 116 balls before Australia’s slower bowlers clamped down on the run rate and Smith captured three quick wickets.

Trott, who scored 84 not out in the third match in Sydney on Sunday, and Eoin Morgan (24) kept the scoreboard ticking over with Trott bringing up his second one-day international century before he was bowled by part-time off-spinner Hussey.

Hussey then dismissed Morgan and while it appeared England had lost their momentum, intelligent batting during the final powerplay by Paul Collingwood (27) and Yardy (39 not out) helped the visitors set a challenging target.

Hussey finished with four for 21 off four overs.

Source: Reuters