Bopara and Cook ensure England whitewash Australians

Captain Alastair Cook (58) and his Essex colleague Ravi Bopara (52no) kept their cool as the hosts reached a Duckworth-Lewis target of 138 with seven wickets and 11 balls to spare in a rain-shortened match at Old Trafford.

England’s change bowlers were to the fore as Australia endured a hapless collapse and mustered only 145-7 in 32 overs.

But the hosts then lost Ian Bell, previously prolific in this series, to a chip to midwicket off Clint McKay in the first over of their reply.

Progress was also interrupted by a short break as the bad weather, which had delayed the start by three-and-a-half hours, briefly returned, and left England with an apparently more exacting equation.

Jonathan Trott was then bowled sweeping at slow left-armer Michael Clarke, and Cook and Bopara had work to do from 34-2 in the 10th over.

But England’s third-wicket pair did not panic, and gathered gradual momentum to add 92, by far the best stand of the match.

Cook adopted the sheet anchor role, on the way to his first half-century of the series from 69 deliveries, and Bopara injected the spark England needed to stay on course in his run-a-ball 50, his 10th in ODI cricket.

The England captain did not quite see the job through, well-caught at slip by Clarke off Ben Hilfenhaus, but Bopara left nothing to chance.

James Tredwell had earlier taken his first home wickets for his country, as the tourists lost 4-12; then Bopara took two for three in seven balls and despite top-scorer George Bailey’s unbeaten 46, Australia’s total was decidedly vulnerable.

They were put in under cloudy skies and, after making 43 for none by the 11th over, badly needed to consolidate that encouraging start.

Sadly for Clarke’s team, they managed nothing of the sort – two run-outs, including the captain’s, helping to undermine their efforts.

Despite a series of plays and misses, from David Warner at Steven Finn in particular, no chances were given until Matthew Wade edged first-change Stuart Broad high and wide to the diving James Anderson at a solitary slip.

Warner clubbed a straight six off Broad, but off-spinner Tredwell, in his first match since last year’s World Cup, struck with his fourth delivery when he had Warner lbw sweeping. Samit Patel and Tredwell then combined to run out No 3 Peter Forrest.

Tredwell upped the ante with his next ball, as Wade went on the charge and failed to get to an off-break and was stumped for a stodgy 12 from 40 balls.

Clarke pushed a faulty single to cover, and was easily short of his ground when Eoin Morgan produced a direct hit.

Steve Smith edged medium-pace Bopara’s first delivery down the leg-side to Craig Kieswetter, and the all-rounder struck with his first attempt in his second over too, David Hussey also caught behind.

From 86-6, Bailey and the tail tried to salvage a defendable target and with a six each off Tredwell and then Anderson, they managed 58 for one wicket in the last 10 overs. Admirable but insufficient.