The China Mail - Labuschagne sparks Australia fightback in England ODI opener

England, on 201-2 off 30 overs, were set for a colossal total after Harry Brook, in his first match as captain, won the toss in the opening fixture of the five-game series.

And they might have achieved it had Ben Duckett, in his first ODI as an opener, gone on to a century on his Nottinghamshire home ground.

But the left-hander fell for 95 when caught and bowled by part-time leg-spinner Labuschagne, who also dismissed Brook (39) in similar fashion soon afterwards.

Labuschagne, the seventh bowler deployed by Australia captain Mitchell Marsh, finished with ODI-best figures of 3-39 after also removing Jofra Archer -- one of several batsmen who fell to spin as England lost their last six wickets for 59 runs.

First-choice leg-spinner Adam Zampa marked his 100th ODI with 3-49 from his full 10 overs.

Australia's Aaron Hardie and debutant left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis both found the outside edge without reward early on.

But when first-change Sean Abbott dropped short, on a pitch renowned for run-scoring, Duckett pulled him for four.

Dwarshuis, however, bowled Phil Salt (17) as the opener backed away, only for a promising return of 1-18 in four overs to be cut short by a pectoral injury.

Will Jacks stylishly lofted off-spinner Matthew Short over extra-cover for the first six of the match and also handed out similar treatment to Zampa.

Duckett completed a typically brisk 49-ball fifty, with Jacks even quicker to the landmark in 45 balls.

But Zampa made the breakthrough for Australia when Jacks (62) holed out to Steve Smith at cover to end a partnership of 120 in 17 overs with Duckett.

Test opener Duckett pressed on before, within sight of just his second century in 12 ODIs, he chipped Labuschagne's fourth delivery straight back to the bowler, to the despair of a packed crowd, as a 91-ball innings including 11 fours ended tamely.

And when Brook fell the same way after sweeping Labuschagne for a four and a six, England were 232-4 off 35 overs.

ODI debutant Jacob Bethell added late impetus with 35 before both he and Adil Rashid fell to successive Travis Head deliveries as England failed by two balls to bat out their full 50 overs.

Australia have several players sidelined by illness and injury, including fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

N.Wan--ThChM