Nottingham: Travis Head delivered a breathtaking performance with an unbeaten 154, guiding Australia to a resounding seven-wicket victory over England in the first ODI at Trent Bridge on Thursday, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Tasked with chasing down a challenging target of 316, Australia comfortably reached 317 for 3 with six overs to spare. Head's innings not only secured the win but also marked the highest individual score by an Australian against England at an English venue.
Head's explosive batting was complemented by Marnus Labuschagne, who contributed a solid 77 not out off 61 balls, forming a crucial partnership of 148 runs. The duo showcased an aggressive approach, with Head amassing 110 of his 154 runs in boundaries, including 20 fours and five sixes. He brought up his sixth ODI century in just 92 deliveries, further solidifying his status as a key player for Australia.
Despite significant absences due to illness—including key players Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood, and Glenn Maxwell—Australia's depth shone through. Ben Dwarshuis, who made his ODI debut, took 1 for 18 before leaving the field with a pectoral injury after bowling just four overs.
England's innings featured a standout performance from Ben Duckett, who scored 95 off 91 balls before falling to Labuschagne in a tame caught-and-bowled dismissal. Will Jacks added 62 runs, while newcomer Jacob Bethell chipped in with 35, helping England set a competitive total. However, Labuschagne’s bowling performance, which included figures of 3 for 39, limited England's scoring opportunities.
Australia's victory marks their 13th consecutive ODI win across all opponents, a testament to their resilience and depth even in the face of adversity. With Head in fine form, Australia will look to build on this momentum in the upcoming matches of the series.