England crush Australia in Champions Trophy

BIRMINGHAM: Hosts England got off to a promising start in the Champions Trophy, inflicting a crushing 48-run defeat on their traditional rivals Australia at the Edgbaston Stadium on Saturday night.

After England posted a challenging 269 for 6 through Ian Bell’s elegant 91 runs, their bowlers restricted Australia to 221 for 9.

Australia skipper George Bailey’s battling 55 runs and James Faulkner’s unbeaten 54 went in vain. James Anderson, who became the highest wicket-taker for England in One-Day Internationals during the match with 237, returned with figures of 3 for 30.

Australia needed a good start but failed to get it as England took control. In the sixth over, Stuart Broad made opener David Warner edge to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler for 9. Shane Watson and Philip Hughes put on 30 runs in 8.4 overs for the second wicket when Tim Bresnan bagged the prized wicket of Watson. The bat-pad catch from Watson on 24 was taken by Cook at gully.