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Patna : England beat Australia by 5 wickets in the first of the five-match ODI series at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia, on January 14, 2018. England ODI captain Eoin Mrgan won the toss but opted to bowl first. Australia made 304/8 in 50 overs.
England opener Jason Roy made a brilliant 180 in 151 balls, his 4th ODI ton, studded with 16 fours and 5 sixes while Joe Root remained unbeaten on 91 in 110 hitting 5 fours. Roy was declared Player of the Match.
Australia made 304/8 with opener Aaron Finch scoring 107 in 119 balls hitting 3 sixes and 10 fours and all rounder Mitchell Marsh scoring 50 in 68 balls hitting 2 sixes and 2 fours. Another all rounder Marcus Stoinis made 60 in 40 balls hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes. Captain Steven Smith was out for 21 and opener David Warner for only 2. Wicketkeeper Tim Paine made 27 in 31 balls hiiting 3 fours. For England pacr Liam Plunkett took 3/71, spinner Adil Rashid 2/73 and Moen Ali 1/39. Mark Wood took 1/49 and Chris Woakes 1/65.
Set a target of 305 to win the match, England made 308/5 in 48.5 overs with Joe Root unbeaten on 91 and Moen Ali five not out. England, who had lost the five-match Ashes series 4-0 few days back, thus went 1-0 up in the five-match ODI series.
Roy and Root were involved in a 221 run partnership for the third wicket. Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, who opened the England innings with J Roy, made 14 in an opening partnership of 51. Alex Hales made four while Captain Eoin Morgan made only one. Joss Buttler was out for four.
For Australia, fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and pat Cummins took two wickets each while Stoinis took 1/33. Andrew Tye made his ODI debut for Australia in the match.