Australia makes 304-8 in 1st ODI vs England

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Opener Aaron Finch scored 107 and put on 118 in a fourth-wicket partnership with Mitchell Marsh which carried Australia to 304-8 as it batted first on Sunday in the first of five one-day internationals against England.

England won the toss, bowled and held an early advantage when it dismissed key batsman David Warner (2) and Steve Smith (23) inside the first 11 overs. When Travis Head was out for 5 to the last ball of the 14th over, Australia was in trouble at 78-3 and England was enjoying a rare moment of ascendancy after is 4-0 loss in the Ashes test series.

But Finch reached his ninth ODI century – his fourth against England – and Marsh (50) posted his 10th half century in a partnership which first restored the balance, then gave Australia the upper hand.

Finch reached his 50 from 65 balls, including seven fours, and immediately celebrated with a six from the bowling of leg-spinner Adil Rashid. When he reached 75 he surpassed 3,000 ODI runs and he went on to a century from 112 balls, raising the milestone another six off Rashid, the third of his innings.

He was out soon after, mis-hitting a ball from Moeen Ali which was caught by Jonny Bairstow at wide mid-wicket.

Marsh was bowled by Rashid as he stepped away to leg and missed a sliding delivery which hit leg stump.

Marsh’s wicket fell in the 38th over when Australia was 205-5 and the platform had been set for a substantial total. Stoinis was the one to capitalize, reaching his second ODI half century from 37 balls with five fours and a six.

He had gone on to 60 when he scooped a delivery from Chris Woakes to Joe Root at mid-off, ending his 80-run partnership with Tim Paine (27) and costing Australia late innings momentum.

Mark Wood, who wasn’t called on during the Ashes series, added an element of pace which England had been missing in the test matches and took 1-49 from 10 overs. Ali bowled a solid mid-innings Spell of 1-39 from 10 overs.

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