Beardman's Debut Spell Sinks England as Australia Win Perth ODI
Australia beat England by seven wickets in the first men's one-day international in Perth, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. A one-day international is a 50-over match, with each side facing up to 50 overs of bowling and batting. England were bowled out for 131 in 33.4 overs, and Australia reached the target with 165 balls to spare.
The match turned on a debutant. Mahli Beardman, a 21-year-old fast bowler from Western Australia, took six for 24 from 7.4 overs on his one-day debut. The Guardian reported that those figures set a new Australian national record. Beardman bowls up to 90 miles per hour, and he has been mentored by the former fast bowler Dennis Lillee.
Australia's captain, Mitch Marsh, won the toss and chose to bowl first. England were in trouble early. At one stage they were 68 for eight, with wickets falling in quick succession. Beardman removed Harry Brook and Joe Root, both caught by wicketkeeper Josh Inglis. Sam Curran and Liam Dawson were also dismissed for ducks, which means they were out without scoring a run. Inglis finished with five catches in the match.
Root did get going later. He scored 17 in his 200th one-day international, but he had been dropped when he was on four. Gus Atkinson was England's top scorer with 29. Tom Banton and Will Jacks each made 25, but no England batter could push the total much past the low 130s.
Australia's reply had a bump. Travis Head was bowled by Atkinson for a golden duck, which is a dismissal without a run on the scoreboard. Spencer Johnson then did the damage with the ball for Australia, taking three for 42 from nine overs. Johnson's spell gave the chase its shape, and the target was reached with plenty of time left in the innings.
For England, the batting collapse is the story to watch as the series moves on. For Australia, the result is a strong start, built on a bowling performance from a player most fans had not yet seen in an ODI. The second match will show whether England can respond, and whether Beardman's first spell was a one-off or the start of something bigger.
