Clarke Helps Australia Draw First Blood

Australia drew first blood as the NatWest Series finally got under way at Old Trafford, defeating England by 88 runs in the second of five matches.

Skipper Michael Clarke led from the front with 105 as the tourists amassed 315-7 Despite half-centuries from Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler, England fell well short in reply, being bowled out for 227.

Seam duo Clint McKay and Mitchell Johnson snapped up five wickets between them to peg back the hosts, the latter dismissing Michael Carberry and Jonathan Trott, who failed to trouble the scorers, in the same over.

Captain Morgan, fresh off an unbeaten century in the midweek win over Ireland, tried to repair the damage after coming in at 38-3, sharing in a fourth-wicket stand worth 59.

But Pietersen drove Shane Watson to point to depart for 60 and although Morgan (54) did forge another partnership with Buttler, this one worth 51, he crucially became the first of three wickets to fall during the batting powerplay.

Buttler refused to give up hope, smacking three sixes and five fours to register a top score of 75, until he perished in the deep, providing Fawad Ahmed with a wicket. The impressive McKay (3-47) finished the game off with 34 balls to spare.

England had needed to record their biggest ever run-chase after Clarke's knock of 105 - Australia's first ever ton in 50-over cricket in Manchester - underpinned his country's highest ODI score on English soil.

The right-hander, who made 187 in last month's Test at the same venue, shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 155 with George Bailey (82) after Morgan had won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Things started off well enough for the hosts when Steve Finn had Shaun Marsh caught behind by wicketkeeper Buttler with the fourth ball of the match.

The Middlesex paceman thought he had two in two when new man Shane Watson was adjudged lbw, only for Richard Kettleborough's on-field decision to be overturned by third umpire Aleem Dar on review, even if there seemed to be no clear proof of an inside edge.

DRS did eventually account for Watson, Ravi Bopara getting him caught behind for 38 after a curate's egg of an innings that mixed some glorious boundaries in with several play-and-misses outside off.

Having put on 60 for the second wicket, Aaron Finch added a further 56 with Clarke before he holed out off James Tredwell, who conceded 60 from his eight overs after coming in for some severe treatment.

Bailey was assured and fluent from the outset, helping take 43 in the batting powerplay. He looked set to reach three figures himself until hitting Bopara (2-57) straight to Tredwell at short fine leg.

Clarke was eventually caught behind to become the first of two wickets in as many balls for Boyd Rankin (2-49), but Australia still had more than enough to go 1-0 up in the series with three games to go, the next of them taking place on Wednesday at Edgbaston.