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England's first win on Aussies in ODI Series puts India back at the top of ODI Rankings
Aaron Finch's hundred went in vain as Australia lost the fourth ODI by 57 runs, giving their No. 1 ranking back to India.
Perth: England have finally beaten Australia on tour by winning the fourth one-day international by 57 runs at the WACA Ground on Friday. England were whitewashed in the Ashes series and lost the one-day series by conceding the first three matches.
Australia rested four regulars - captain Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and David Warner - and England took advantage by scoring 316-8, including half centuries to Jos Buttler (71), Ben Stokes (70) and Ian Bell (55). Despite Aaron Finch's 108 off 111 balls, Australia was all out for 259 by the 48th over. Stokes took 4-39 to continue his impressive tour.
"It's been a while since we had this feeling," England captain Alastair Cook said. "It was a full team performance. We've played a long way from our performance. The good thing is that we know that it's there." Before the game, Cook revealed he was keen to stay on as captain of the one-day side despite having reservations about his position just days earlier.
After being sent in, Cook and Bell combined for 87 until Cook was bowled by Glenn Maxwell for 44 off 43 balls in the 13th over. Cook hit eight boundaries, Bell nine, Stokes six and a six, and Buttler six and four sixes. Mitchell Johnson finished with 0-72 from his 10 overs, while fellow fast bowler James Pattinson also struggled with 0-63 off eight.
ALSO SEE Images from the match
Allrounder James Faulkner claimed 4-67 and was on a hat trick on the final ball of the innings, only for Stuart Broad to deny him by hitting a four. "We were outplayed today, they got off to a flyer," Australia stand-in captain George Bailey said. "Ideally you want the same team playing every night, but you have to give other people some opportunities."
Australia, despite a rising run rate required, had a chance as long as opener Finch stayed in. He brought up his third one-day century off 97 balls, including eight boundaries and four sixes, taking Ravi Bopara four a pair down the legside in the 31st over.
It was his second century of the series, after 121 in the opener at Melbourne. He was out in the 36th over, trying to hit Bresnan to the third man boundary but forcing Broad to make a running catch. At 189-5, needing more than eight runs an over, the pressure told and Australia lost wickets too regularly to threaten another comeback win. The fifth and final one-dayer is on Sunday at Adelaide.
