Zampa takes four seeing as Australia go 1-0 up over England
A hundred years stand between Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell and four wickets for spinner Adam Zampa helped Australia downwards world champions England by 19 runs in the opening clash of the three-meet ODI series at Out of date Trafford on Friday.
Australia recovered from a shaky start to score 294 for nine within their 50 overs even though Sam Billings struck an impressive maiden ODI century, the hosts were always behind the overall game.
"It had been nice to get and begin off the series effectively," Australia captain Aaron Finch explained.
"It was an excellent partnership. They paced it certainly well. They performed two really good, mature innings and I'm really happy for them two to get some runs."
England put the visitors, who were without Steve Smith after he suffered a blow to the head in the nets on Thursday, in and had them reeling on 123 for five.
David Warner's struggle for form continued when England quick Jofra Archer rocked his off stump in the fourth above before Finch (16) edged Mark Wood's primary ball behind.
Marcus Stoinis played aggressively for his 43 but edged an expansive get off Real wood to keeper Jos Buttler.
Marnus Labuschagne (21) and Alex Carey (10) both fell to Adil Rashid as Australia toiled but Marsh steadied the ship and, after Maxwell got his eye in, the visitors went on the attack.
Maxwell thumped four sixes found in his 77 off 59 balls, including successive swipes off Archer before chopping on.
Marsh fell lbw to Wood for 73 and England did well to hold Australia below 300.
As soon as Josh Hazlewood scooped a outstanding caught and bowled to dismiss England opener Jason Roy for three it appeared as if being an uphill battle for England.
Hazlewood produced a superb ball to have Joe Root caught in back of for one. Morgan had taken the deal with to Australia with a huge six off Hazlewood but pulled an extended hop from Zampa right to Maxwell at mid-wicket to fall on 23.
BILLINGS CENTURY
When Buttler miscued away Zampa and was taken brilliantly by a diving Labuschagne at much time off for just one England were 57-4.
Bairstow scratched around initially and rode his luck, as did Billings, nevertheless they acquired the scoreboard ticking along in a superb fifth wicket stand of 113 to regenerate English hopes.
Bairstow, whose 50 was his slowest in ODIs, accelerated and had reached 84 from 107 when he was caught at long on simply by a diving Hazlewood away Zampa.
When Moeen Ali became Hazlewood's third wicket immediately after Australia could breathe just a little easier.
Zampa found his fourth wicket when Chris Woakes was caught by Maxwell but Billings refused to stop on what would have been the best ODI run chase in Old Trafford.
England required 66 from the last six overs but Australia, beaten comfortably by England on the globe Cup semi-final last year, sealed a morale-boosting gain having shed the T20 series.
Billings was from the last ball of the innings for 118 as being England finished on 275-9.
"The overall game probably slipped from us in the primary 10 to 12 overs with the bat," England skipper Morgan said.
"We thought we could chase it down if we proven a few partnerships. I assumed they played well."
There were mixed feelings for Billings immediately after his excellent innings had kept England in the hunt.
"I'm disappointed I couldn't get the group over the range. It's blended feelings," he said.
"It's been a long time approaching and I'm glad on an individual level to obtain a score."
