Ian Bell cracked a responsible 91 and James Anderson scalped three wickets as England dished out a disciplined all-round performance to notch up a convincing 48-run victory over Australia in their Group A match of the Champions Trophy here on Saturday.
Riding on Bell's half-century, England first posted a challenging 269 for six, despite some good bowling by the Australian bowlers, after electing to bat. The hosts then returned to tighten the noose around Australia's neck with a very disciplined bowling display and eventually restricted the visitors for 221-9 in their 50 overs at Edgbaston here.
Seamer James Anderson became the highest wicket-taker in one-day cricket for England during his three-wicket haul as he along with Tim Bresnan (2/45) and Stuart Broad (1/35) put Australia under tremendous pressure.
Spinners James Tredwell (1/51) and part-time spinners Joe Root (1/20) and Ravi Bopara (1/34) also supported the pacers well and didn't allow the Aussies to free their arms.
For Australia, skipper George Bailey was the top-scorer with a 69-ball 55, while James Faulkner scored an unbeaten 54 but they never got the support from the other end as Australia kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Earlier, Bell's partnership of 111 with Jonathan Trott, who made 43, was the backbone of the English innings as Bopara (46 no, 3x4, 1x6) struck a few meaty blows in the end.
During his 115-ball innings, Bell hit seven boundaries and seldom did he hit any rash stroke. Bopara provided the late charge and added 56 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket stand with Tim Bresnan (19 no) after England were reduced to 213 for six at one stage.
For Australia, seamers Clint Mckay (2/38) and James Faulkner (2/48) were the most successful bowlers.
Chasing 270 to win, Australian openers David Warner and Shane Watson found the going tough right from the beginning, thanks to a tight and consistent line by England pacers. The first boundary for Australia came only in the fourth over when Watson came up with a well-timed flick across the square leg.
However, Broad accounted for Warner (9) in the sixth over when he induced an edged off the batsman to Jos Buttler, who took a fine catch behind the stumps. Two overs later, Watson and Hughes managed two boundaries — one off a miscued leading edge by the opener, while the other an excellent drive by the new batsman. However, with the seamers bowling in tandem, Australia could manage only 35 runs in the first powerplay.
Bresnan was introduced into the attack then and Hughes welcomed him with an sweetly-timed drive past extra cover for a much-needed boundary. However, the pacer along with spinner Tredwell tightened the screw further to dry up the runs.
Brief scores
England: 269 for 6 in 50 overs (Ian Bell 91, Ravi Bopara 46 not out; Clint McKay 2/38, James Faulkner) beat Australia: 221 for 9 in 50 overs (George Bailey 55, James Faulkner 54 not out; James Anderson 3/29) by 28 runs.