Classy Martyn sets up Australia victory

JAIPUR – Damien Martyn stroked 78 to spur world champions Australia to a six-wicket victory over England in their must-win Champions Trophy Group A tie on Saturday.

Martyn, who turned 35 on Saturday, rescued Australia from early trouble to guide them to 170 for four with 13.1 overs to spare after they had dismissed England for 169 in a warning before the Ashes contest starting next month. The win kept Australian hopes alive for a maiden Champions Trophy title after their 10-run defeat against West Indies on Wednesday while England were all but knocked out after their second defeat in the four-team group.Martyn raced to a 35-ball fifty after fast bowler Sajid Mahmood removed Adam Gilchrist (10) and skipper Ricky Ponting (1) off successive overs to make it 34 for three in the seventh over.Martyn dominated a 118-run fourth wicket partnership with Mike Hussey, who was 32 not out, until he was out 18 runs from the end.All rounder Shane Watson and fellow paceman Mitchell Johnson grabbed three wickets each to dismiss England in 45 overs as all the wickets tumbled for 86 runs after another shoddy batting display on a slow pitch.The 25-year-old Watson and left-armer Johnson, 24, both Ashes contenders, found the perfect stage to shine ahead of the test series starting in Brisbane on Nov.23.Watson went for just 16 runs in seven overs while Johnson gave away only 40 runs in his 10-over spell.England openers Andrew Strauss, who top-scored with 56, and Ian Bell, who made a chancy 43, had put on 83 to give England an early advantage.But the tide quickly turned after Ponting called up Watson as third change in the 19th over.Watson had Bell caught at cover by Hussey and claimed the prize scalp of Andrew Flintoff for four runs after Johnson had struck in the previous over to remove the aggressive Kevin Pietersen for one.Watson targeted Flintoff with two short deliveries, forcing him to fend off the first before the England skipper skied a pull to midwicket where Hussey ran from deep to take a low catch.A power failure on a floodlight tower halted play for 10 minutes during the Australian innings and Mahmood bowled Gilchrist with the first ball after the resumption.The batsman, waving away movement near the sight screen, missed the line of the ball.Ponting edged a drive without moving his feet to be caught at slip and James Anderson bowled Watson in the next over as he attempted a heave over midwicket.* Opener Upul Tharanga led Sri Lanka to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in their Champions Trophy Group B match on Friday.The left-hander hit 56 and shared an 89-run second-wicket stand with captain Mahela Jayawardene (48) as Sri Lanka reached their target of 166 with 14 overs to spare.Nampa-ReutersThe win kept Australian hopes alive for a maiden Champions Trophy title after their 10-run defeat against West Indies on Wednesday while England were all but knocked out after their second defeat in the four-team group.Martyn raced to a 35-ball fifty after fast bowler Sajid Mahmood removed Adam Gilchrist (10) and skipper Ricky Ponting (1) off successive overs to make it 34 for three in the seventh over.Martyn dominated a 118-run fourth wicket partnership with Mike Hussey, who was 32 not out, until he was out 18 runs from the end.All rounder Shane Watson and fellow paceman Mitchell Johnson grabbed three wickets each to dismiss England in 45 overs as all the wickets tumbled for 86 runs after another shoddy batting display on a slow pitch.The 25-year-old Watson and left-armer Johnson, 24, both Ashes contenders, found the perfect stage to shine ahead of the test series starting in Brisbane on Nov.23.Watson went for just 16 runs in seven overs while Johnson gave away only 40 runs in his 10-over spell.England openers Andrew Strauss, who top-scored with 56, and Ian Bell, who made a chancy 43, had put on 83 to give England an early advantage.But the tide quickly turned after Ponting called up Watson as third change in the 19th over.Watson had Bell caught at cover by Hussey and claimed the prize scalp of Andrew Flintoff for four runs after Johnson had struck in the previous over to remove the aggressive Kevin Pietersen for one.Watson targeted Flintoff with two short deliveries, forcing him to fend off the first before the England skipper skied a pull to midwicket where Hussey ran from deep to take a low catch.A power failure on a floodlight tower halted play for 10 minutes during the Australian innings and Mahmood bowled Gilchrist with the first ball after the resumption.The batsman, waving away movement near the sight screen, missed the line of the ball.Ponting edged a drive without moving his feet to be caught at slip and James Anderson bowled Watson in the next over as he attempted a heave over midwicket. * Opener Upul Tharanga led Sri Lanka to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in their Champions Trophy Group B match on Friday.The left-hander hit 56 and shared an 89-run second-wicket stand with captain Mahela Jayawardene (48) as Sri Lanka reached their target of 166 with 14 overs to spare.Nampa-Reuters