365notout wrote:On this day in 2014 some stunning rearguard action snatched victory away from England in the second ODI of, what has been, a dismal tour for England.
In the clamour inspired by James Faulkner at the death many will be excused for forgetting that Eoin Morgan bagged a century in this match and rescued an innings that appeared to be drifting into obscurity. The scale of Morgan's century was impressive, reaching his fifty off 24 balls and his century in 94. Morgan inspired England from 171-5 to their total of 300.
Australia's chase started disappointingly with Aaron Finch gone for a duck and David Warner and Michael Clarke both gone for less than twenty. Shaun Marsh held the opening overs together with a effective half century.
James Faulkner came in at 206/7 when it seemed Australia were unraveling. There was even more light at the end of the tunnel when Australia lost two more batsmen to Tim Bresnan, leaving the last pair, Faulkner and Clint McKay, to make up a 56 run deficit.
The manner of Faulkner's play was smash and grab - as is underlined by the fact he ended the contest with three boundaries. Faulkner's unbeaten 69 here was the third-highest score by a No. 9 in ODIs and his stand with McKay was the second-highest tenth-wicket partnership to win a match
Take a minute to digest the following sentences. Chew them over. Savour them.
In the 15 ODI run chases that he's batted in, James Faulkner averages 119.
Of Faulkner's 15 run chases, Australia has won 11.
In those 11 winning chases, Faulkner averages 287.
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