England against Australia grudge match tomorrow

No records will be set nor broken. The runs, the wickets, catches and stumpings will not be added to the players’ tally, but tomorrow’s match between England and world champion Australia, will nonetheless be equally competitive.

The two meet at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex here, in the last of the warm up matches ahead of the group stages of cricket world cup.{{more}}

Their meeting has assumed greater importance since Australia have lost their last five full One Day Internationals including the Commonwealth Cup final at the hands of England.

“Any match involving England and Australia has some worth”, said England’s captain Michael Vaughan last Monday following his team’s crushing 241runs defeat of Bermuda.

The English spared little effort in rattling up 286 for 8 in their 50 overs.

An imnings that was of two parts. England made a moderate start reaching 116 for 3 in 20 over. This was further pushed to 132 for 5 pegged back by some miserly bowling from the 270 lbs left arm off spinner Dwayne Leverock whose ten overs, two of which were maidens cost 32 runs. He was responsible for the demise of Kevin Pietersen stumped by wicketkeeper Dean Minors for 43, luring the batsman down the pitch with a delivery that beat him in flight.

He also had Paul Collingwood caught by Minors.

But a late order charge by James Dalrymple navigated England to a score of respectability. Dalrymple struck 76, laced with three fours and two sixes to add some impetus to the innings.

Delyone Borden 3 for 71 and Kevin Hurdle 2 for 58 were the other bowlers among the wickets for the Bermudans.

But the spattering of spectators who turned out to the newly refurbished venue with a capacity 0f 12 000, were given little to savour as Bermuda folded for a paltry 45 in 22.2 overs.

Jon Lewis 3 for 7, James Anderson 2 for 8 and Andrew Flintoff 2 for 3, reveled in Bermuda’s inept batting characterised by poor technique.

Australia on the other hand recorded a 96 run win over Zimbabwe on Tuesday. Despite the presence of Glenn Mc Grath, Ricky Ponting and the emerging Michael Hussey in the Australian line up, there were fewer persons in attendance as the school children who occupied the bottom tier of the double decker when visibly absent, but the world champion still posted an impregnable 290 for 7 in their 50 overs. Michael Clarke batting at number four top scored with 82, with Shane Watson at the top of the order hitting 81, as the Australians used the occasion to get some batting practice against some ordinary bowling.

Sean Williams was Zimbabwe’s most successful bowler with 2 for 48 from 8 overs.

Zimbabwe were never in the contest but provided more resistance the Bermudans as they were resticted to 184 for 7. Williams was again in the lime light. he made a topscore of 44 and Elton Chagumbura chipped in with 35, as Australia tightened their grip on the proceedngs, sending down nine maiden overs.

Stuart Clarke took 2 for 33, while there was one wicket apiece for Nathan Bracken, Mc Grath, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Hogg.

The two minnows Zimbabwe and Bermuda play each other today , before heading off to their respective groups. Zimbawe play in Group D in Jamaica along with the West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland.

Bermuda face Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh in Group B to be played in Trinidad and Tobago.

England are drawn in Group C. They have a big asking March 16 versus New Zealand in their opener at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia. Australia, winner of the world cup in 1999 and 2003 open their defence of the title March 14 in a Group A fixture against Scotland at Warner Park in St. Kitts and Nevis.