Australia fast bowler Doug Bollinger produced a remarkable man-of-the-match performance to help his side to a 46-run win over England in the second ODI in Hobart.
Sent in to bat by England, Australia crumbled to 4-33 and were still in deep trouble at 8-142.
But a magnificent innings from Shaun Marsh, after being left out of Australia’s World Cup squad days earlier, saved the innings. Marsh was eventually dismissed for 110 but his partnership with Bollinger, who whacked a career-best 30 off as many balls, helpd Australia to 230 all out.
With Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey both sidelined with injury, Marsh’s innings may yet catapult him into the World Cup squad as a late replacement.
England’s innings got off to a shaky start when Brett Lee removed opener Matt Prior for a duck before Bollinger dismissed Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen in consecutive balls in the eighth over.
Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell set about rebuilding England’s innings but when they fell, to Steve Smith and Brett Lee respectively, England were 5-96 and staring down the barrel.
Shane Watson removed danger-man Eoin Morgan before effecting the run out of Michael Yardy, leaving it to Bollinger to claim two more wickets as the English tail offered scant resistance.
Australia now lead the seven-match series 2-0, with the third ODI to be played in Sydney on Sunday.
