Tredwell plays a part but England lose second ODI

Kent off-spinner James Tredwell (pictured) picked up his third ODI cap in Hobart today but it was Australia who moved into a two-nil series lead as they beat England by 46 runs

The 28 year-old sent down eight overs as the tourists restricted the home side to 230. Unfortunately, the total proved to be too much for England as their top order collapsed before eventually slumping to 184 all-out as the Aussies extended their lead in the seven-match series. Tredwell showed his batting capabilities, coming in at number nine, scoring 16 but it was all in vain as the Aussies claimed victory.

After winning the toss England captain Andrew Strauss asked the home side to bat first at the Bellerive Oval and his decision immediately paid dividends as the seam attack of Ajmal Shahzad, Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan uprooted the hosts“ top-order. Shahzad bowled both openers off inside edges for five as Melbourne centurion Shane Watson and wicketkeeper/batsman Brad Haddin fell cheaply. Bresnan then got in on the act, removing captain Michael Clarke for ten – caught at forward point by Ian Bell, before Tremlett claimed his first victim of the afternoon as David Hussey edged to Strauss at gully on ten. At that point, Australia were reeling at 33 for four.

However, they did fight back in the form of Cameron White and Shaun Marsh. The duo added a hundred for the fifth wicket, during which Tredwell bowled the majority of his overs as the pair were in full flow. White finally fell for 45 in the 33rd over – caught and bowled by Michael Yardy, before Steve Smith claimed a duck in the very next over as Shahzad bowled his second ball. Nathan Hauritz and Brett Lee then failed to hang around as both Yardy and Bresnan claimed their second scalps. At 142 for eight, with still 13 overs to go, England would have hoped to wrap proceedings up without too much fuss but Marsh had other ideas.

He, in tandem with an unlikely source in Doug Bollinger, frustrated the tourists as they added 88 for the ninth wicket. Seam bowler Bollinger crafted a run-a-ball thirty but the star of the show was Marsh as he blasted 110 off 114 balls to take the Aussies up to 230. The two batsmen fell in consecutive balls to Tremlett in the penultimate over as the home side gave themselves something to bowl at. Tremlett 3-22 and Shahzad 3-43 shone for England with the ball. Tredwell returned for two more overs in the final flurry and kept things tidy with his eighth, and final over, only going for three runs as he finished with economical figures of 0-44.

In reply England lost Matt Prior early on. The wicketkeeper, restored to the side at the expense of Surrey gloveman Steve Davies, edged Lee to Watson at slip for no score. Strauss and Jonathan Trott steadied the ship momentarily before Bollinger struck a lethal double blow. Firstly, Strauss was trapped in front by the left-armer on 19 and the very next ball Kevin Pietersen played on to leave England creaking on 36 for three off eight overs.

Bell joined Trott at the crease as a rebuilding mission ensued. They slowly but surely halted the procession of wickets, adding 47 for the fourth wicket, before Trott departed for 32. At this stage the run-rate required was closing in on a run-a-ball and England were under pressure. Matters worsened soon enough as Bell (32) slapped Lee to Smith at backward point. By reducing the visitors to 96 for five, the Aussies were in pole position.

Left-handers Eoin Morgan and Yardy added some much-needed impetus to the chase, adding 44 inside eight overs, before disaster struck as Morgan fell for 21 in the first over of the batting powerplay. Watson tempted the Irishmen to flick out to the leg-side and Shaun Tait took the catch. England needed 91 off the final 15 with just four wickets in hand and their hopes looked even slimmer when Yardy was the next to fall for 22.

This brought Tredwell to the crease and he battled gamely with Bresnan but their 31-run stand came to an end when Bollinger took out the Yorkshireman for 19. Tredwell followed three balls later as he was trapped leg-before by the left-arm seamer. Soon after, Australia wrapped up the win when Shahzad was run-out as England perished for 184. Bollinger was the star-man for Australia as he complimented his thirty with bowling figures of 4-28.

Tredwell will look to keep his place in the side when the two teams reconvene battles in Sydney on Sunday.

Picture:Getty Images