Australia’s big-name bowling attack shut down Scotland for a 189-run win after David Hussey provided the initial warmth with his first ODI century on a shivery day in Edinburgh

The Bulletin by Peter English in Edinburgh28-Aug-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Richie Berrington fought hard for his 25, but Australia’s strong attack was too much for Scotland•SNSAustralia’s big-name bowling attack shut down Scotland for a 189-run win after David Hussey provided the initial warmth with his first ODI century on a shivery day in Edinburgh. Hussey’s brisk 111 allowed the tourists to speed to 345, their 12th largest total, and the hosts did well to manage 156 before being dismissed in the 40th over.The sun came out for Scotland’s innings but the Australian fast bowlers took a while to shake off the cold and the captain Gavin Hamilton and Frazer Watts started by putting on 51 in 56 balls. Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Dirk Nannes and Shane Watson were all trialled for an early breakthrough, but the opening pair had few problems until Watts played on to Nannes, giving the left-arm fast man his first wicket on debut.Nannes, who played in the World Twenty20 in June for the Netherlands, was welcomed by Watts with boundaries from his first and sixth deliveries before forcing a straight six in his third over. The opening wicket slowed the hosts’ momentum and Lee and his team-mates chipped in regularly to seal the warm-up success for their limited-overs engagements against England.Lee struck with a slower ball, a full toss which hit the top of Ryan Watson’s stumps on 10, and the home side was 82 for 3 after Qasim Sheikh charged at Nathan Hauritz. His nick was missed by Tim Paine but picked up by the first slip Cameron White following a juggle.Hussey’s strong match continued when he was successful with his second ball, Hamilton being taken by a sharp Watson grab at midwicket for 38. It was a bad mistake for Hamilton, who was desperate to convert his strong start, and he left a disappointed leader.Once the captain went Australia were in control, but they weren’t dominating with the ball on a slowish pitch like they did with the bat. Richie Berrington (25) and Neil McCallum (24) stayed for a while before being overpowered and the tail went quickly. Lee, who knocked out Berrington’s off stump, captured two wickets and snatched a fine diving catch at cover to give Watson his second. Watson led the attack with 3 for 29 to ensure Hussey’s contribution ended in a healthy win.Hussey, who has been left out of the 50-over squads for this trip and the Champions Trophy, is currently seen as a Twenty20 specialist and appeared in this game while his brother Michael rested. He showed Australia what they were missing with a powerful display against modest and overawed opposition.After Australia were in minor discomfort at 143 for 4, Hussey exploded against the offspinner Majid Haq with four sixes in three overs, hitting straight down the ground with assistance from the stiff breeze. The blows were so strong that the only people in danger were the freeloaders watching through the trees outside the ground at the Nursery End.One ball was lost in the foliage and another hit the sightscreen, but Haq continued to flight his deliveries and was punished. Adam Voges joined in with a big clearance and Haq eventually finished with 0 for 75 off 10 overs.Hussey stepped out after the early losses of David Warner (0) and Michael Clarke (16) to join Watson, who was also in a hurry on his way to a 41-ball 68. On a day like this, when only the brave wore t-shirts for the first 50 overs, the batsmen were content to be in the middle – as long as they were doing something to keep warm.Watson, Hussey and Voges got the spectators’ hands out of their pockets to clap – and field – with bursts of impressive strokeplay against willing but out-classed bowlers. Hussey’s century came from 83 balls and there was a brief acknowledgement before he attempted more sixes. He landed another before finding McCallum at long off, launching one high into the wind off Berrington.The innings, which lasted 87 deliveries, would have been more timely if it had arrived in ODIs against South Africa, New Zealand or Pakistan over the past eight months. Hussey’s failure to make regular contributions in those series was the reason for his dropping and it’s unlikely a big score against a team like this will help him too much. What it has done is put him in form before the two Twenty20s against England starting in Manchester on Sunday.Voges did the same, blasting three sixes in his 72, and Watson continued his strong tour since being promoted to the Test team in Birmingham. Paine, the debutant wicketkeeper, joined the fun with a calm 29 not out in the frenetic finish that was dominated by Gordon Goudie, the opening bowler.Goudie ended the innings with four late breakthroughs to take 5 for 73 from 10 overs – only the second five-wicket haul by a Scotland player – and give the strong crowd someone local to cheer. He collected two wickets in the 48th over and removed Nathan Hauritz and Dirk Nannes to conclude Australia’s heavy scoring. Scotland kept in touch for a while in reply and hung in against the world’s No. 3 team.