Melbourne, Jan 14 (AFP) Opener Jason Roy recorded thehighest-ever one-day international score by an England playeras the tourists finally had something to celebrate with afive-wicket win over Australia on Sunday.
After their wretched Ashes campaign, in which theywere beaten 4-0, the tourists chased down a hefty Australiantotal at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to win with seven ballsto spare in the opener of the five-match ODI series.
Set 305 to win, Roy's daring 180 helped England make308 for five.
The successful chase was also a record for a one-dayinternational at the MCG, eclipsing Australia's 297 for fouragainst England in 2011, and vindicated captain Eoin Morgan'sdecision to bowl first.
Having been an onlooker for the Test series, Roy wasan unlikely hero. But he rode his luck to produce a record inlimited-overs cricket for England and also a new benchmark fora batsman at the MCG in a one-day international.
The swashbuckling right-hander lived dangerouslythroughout his innings, charging along at better than a run aball and reaching his half-century off only 32 balls.
He survived a run-out scare and an lbw decision whichwas overturned upon review, and lofted several balls just outof the reach of frustrated Australian fielders on the way tohis fifth ODI century.
Roy was just five when Mitchell Starc could have runhim out with a direct hit. He duly punished the Australianfast bowler by taking 14 off his next over as the touristsraced past 50 in the fifth over.
He was seemingly trapped lbw by 91 by spinner AdamZampa on 91, but a review showed the ball hit him outside theline of off stump and the decision was overturned.
Roy wasted little time making the most of that pieceof fortune, driving the next ball just over a leaping AaronFinch on the long-on boundary for six.
He reached his hundred just moments later from 92balls, with nine fours and three sixes.
Fittingly, the 27-year-old passed team-mate AlexHales's England record knock of 171 against Pakistan in 2016with a chip just over the head of a despairing Australianfielder.
He finally fell to Starc after skying one into theoutfield, having faced 151 balls -- hitting 16 fours and fivesixes.
Roy was still coming to terms with his achievementafter the match.
"Incredibly special, I don't have too many words rightnow," he said. "Halesy was pretty disappointed." Australian captain Steve Smith praised Roy for hisbold knock.
"He didn't give us a chance, and he chanced his arm,"Smith said. "They got off to an absolute flyer and we couldn'tpull them back." Roy had a willing partner in Test captain Joe Root,who had been tormented all tour by the Australians and was inno mood to let a rare victory slip.
Root made an unbeaten 91 and he and Roy put on 221 --an English ODI record -- for the third wicket.
Aaron Finch's ninth one-day international century wasthe cornerstone of the Australian total of 304 for eight.
Finch's 107 was backed by half-centuries for MitchellMarsh (50) and Marcus Stoinis (60) as Australia recovered froma shaky start in which the tourists finally managed to getbogeyman Steve Smith cheaply.
Fresh from scoring three centuries as Australia wonthe Ashes 4-0, Smith looked in commanding touch again as hescored at better than a run a ball, but was caught behind offspinner Adil Rashid for just 23. AFP BSBS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.