Michael Clarke hit Australia’s first one-day international hundred at Old Trafford as the tourists piled up 315 for seven in the second NatWest Series match.
Clarke (105), returning to the ground where he made 187 in last month’s Test but also ended up conceding the Ashes, shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 155 with George Bailey (82) in Australia’s highest ODI total against England in this country.
None of his compatriots has previously made a century at this venue in 10 ODIs against England - and until Bailey chipped a catch to short fine-leg off Ravi Bopara, it seemed two were about to come along at once.
In any case, after being put in on a pitch of slightly uneven pace but little lateral movement, Australia had put the onus on England to bat very well too under increasing cloud cover if they are to avoid going 1-0 down with three to play after Friday’s washout in Leeds.
Clarke reached his eighth century in this format from only 94 balls, having hit 14 fours but taken few obvious risks as only Boyd Rankin among England’s bowlers was able to consistently exert much control.
The 30-over platform was already a very good one, at 159 for three, especially after Australia lost Shaun Marsh without a run on the board.
The left-hander, who hit a century in a record opening stand of 246 with Aaron Finch in last Tuesday’s victory over Scotland, lasted only four balls this time.
Marsh followed some full-length swing from Steven Finn, edging behind, and it was almost nought for two next ball.
Instead, Shane Watson profited from the vagaries of the decision review system when Aleem Dar’s third-umpire deliberations overturned Richard Kettleborough’s initial lbw verdict on Hotspot evidence of bat on ball.
Watson played a fretful part in the first of three successive 50-plus stands until DRS got him in the end, Dar again unable to endorse Kettleborough - this time on the basis of audio only, to conclude the number three had edged a wide ball behind off Bopara for birthday boy Jos Buttler’s second catch.
First-change Ben Stokes made a nervy start, overpitching in a solitary over of his his first spell from the old pavilion end.
Australia also refused to let James Tredwell settle and the hosts needed some respite by the time their off-spinner had Finch routinely held when he picked out Joe Root at long-off.
The opener had survived on 19, when a direct hit from Eoin Morgan at mid-off would have run him out by yards, before eventually falling five short of his 50.
Bailey was assured and fluent from the outset, though, as he and Clarke stayed ahead of the game - sufficiently to call an early powerplay, in which Australia cashed in 43 for none.
In the last of those five overs, Stokes conceded 13 as Bailey followed his captain to a half-century with his third six - a clean, straight hit - to go with three fours from 47 balls.
But Bailey and then Clarke too, caught behind aiming a big hit at the deserving Rankin, both went in the last 10 overs as England fought back to restrict the damage a little.
