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NOTTINGHAM: Travis Head’s unbeaten century, coupled with two wickets, powered Australia to a convincing seven-wicket victory over England in the first ODI of the five-match series here at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Set to chase a daunting 316, Australia comfortably amassed 317/3 with 36 balls to spare, courtesy of an unbeaten 148-run partnership between Head and Marnus Labuschagne.
The visitors, however, had a contrasting start to the pursuit as they lost their skipper Mitchell Marsh (10) in the fourth over with 20 runs on the board.
Experienced batter Steve Smith then joined Head in the middle and together they raised an anchoring partnership which yielded 76 runs.
Smith looked in great touch as he scored at a brisk rate until falling victim to Liam Livingstone in the 16th over. He smashed three sixes on his way to a 28-ball 32.
Head was then involved in another crucial partnership with Cameron Green, who made a run-a-ball 32.
Australia were 169/3 in 26.1 overs when Marnus Labuschagne joined Travis Head in the middle, needing a further 146 runs.
The duo dominated the England bowlers with Travis Head being the core aggressor while Labuschagne anchored his way through as Australia reached the finish line with six overs left.
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Travis Head top-scored with a quickfire 154 off 129 deliveries, peppered with 20 fours and five sixes while Marnus Labuschagne made a well-crafted 77 off 61 balls, laced up with seven fours and two sixes.
For England, Matthew Potts, Jacob Bethell and Liam Livingstone shared three wickets between them.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, England registered a decent total of 315 at the back of brilliant half-centuries by Ben Duckett and Will Jacks.
Duckett remained the top-scorer for England with a 91-ball 95 with the help of 11 boundaries, followed by Will Jacks, who made 62 off 56 deliveries. The duo shared a 120-run stand for the second wicket to put England on course for a big total.
Besides them, stand-in skipper Harry Brook (39) and debutant Jacob Bethell (35) made significant contributions.
Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne were the standout bowlers for Australia, picking up three wickets each, followed by Travis Head, who took two.
Australia now lead the five-match series 1-0 against England. The two sides next face each other in the second ODI on Saturday in Leeds.
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