Second one-day international
Australia's Shaun Marsh plays innings England lack as tourists crumble
Only two batsmen, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell, established themselves, but they were both out for 32. Two of Australia's bowlers, Nathan Hauritz and Shaun Tait, limped off injured but England were still unable to take advantage.
England made a poor start to their innings. Matt Prior, on his ODI comeback, made a three-ball duck, edging Brett Lee to slip. Then Doug Bollinger set England back on their heels with two wickets in as many balls.
First he had Andrew Strauss lbw as the batsman played defensively. Strauss seemed satisfied with the decision and headed straight for the changing room. Jonathan Trott called him back for a review but the decision was upheld.
Then, next ball, Kevin Pietersen was bowled via an inside edge and England were in trouble at 36 for three after eight overs. Bollinger was on a hat-trick at the start of his next over and Bell pulled his first ball only just wide of fine leg.
Trott and Bell then put on a careful 47 in 15 overs but when Steve Smith came into the attack he broke through with his second ball. It was not a good one, either, almost short enough to qualify as a long-hop. But Trott pulled it straight to short-midwicket.
There was another soft delivery when Bell, who had laboured for 61 deliveries, cut Brett Lee straight to backward-point and England were suddenly second favourites at 96 for five in the 28th over.
Eoin Morgan and Michael Yardy then did well, adding 44 in seven overs. But then England called for a powerplay and, as is so often the case, it led to the fall of a wicket as Morgan attempted to hit over the infield and Tait took a finely judged catch.
Two overs later, Yardy ran himself out. He went for a single that was never really there and was sent back by Prior, running for Tim Bresnan, who had a calf injury. Shane Watson threw down the stumps with Yardy well short of his ground.
Bollinger struck another double when Bresnan sliced to third man and then James Tredwell was lbw. Finally, Ajmal Shahzad was run out.
Australia's innings was centred on a thrilling 110 from 114 balls by Shaun Marsh, with each run rebuking the selectors for their surprising decision to leave him out of their World Cup squad.
Marsh, 27, who has been in blistering form for Western Australia, particularly in the Twenty20 Big Bash competition, hit eight fours and two sixes as he overturned England's early domination.
England, who had won the toss and chosen to bowl in damp and seaming conditions, had reduced Australia to 33 for four in the 13th over when Marsh came to the crease.
Shahzad, seaming the ball into the right-hander at a nippy pace, bowled both openers, Watson and Brad Haddin, via the inside edge of their bats.
Michael Clarke was out to the first really bad ball England delivered, in the 10th over, cutting a short one from Bresnan straight to Bell in the covers. David Hussey was fourth out when Strauss took a sharp catch at gully off Chris Tremlett, the best of the England bowlers.
Marsh then rescued the innings by putting on 100 for the fifth wicket in 20 overs with Cameron White (45), who chipped a return catch back to Yardy just when he was about to start opening his shoulders.
Australia then lost three wickets cheaply before Marsh and Bollinger added 88 from 70 deliveries to set up a competitive total. Bollinger, whose previous highest score in 27 ODIs was three, made a run-a-ball 30. Marsh, who offered a return catch to Shahzad when 61, reached his 100 when he slog-swept Yardy for six.
Marsh probably will get a World Cup chance because of the injury to Mike Hussey. He said after his innings: "I was disappointed not to be included in the squad because I've really enjoyed my cricket in the past few months. I can't do too much about now."
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