Watson the hero for Australia at MCG

Shane Watson scored a career-best 161 not out as Australia pulled off the highest successful run-chase at the MCG in one-day international history on Sunday.

Kevin Pietersen’s 78 in his comeback game to the ODI side and Brad Haddin’s three missed stumpings helped England score 294 in 49.4 overs.
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Australia replied with 4-297 as Watson thrilled the crowd with a six, his fourth of the innings, on the first ball of the final over to kill off England’s hopes.

Watson hit 12 fours and faced 150 deliveries in a stunning display, his fifth ODI century.

Veteran Mike Hussey, who scored 21 for Australia at No.5, appeared to strain a hamstring while batting in a shocking piece of timing ahead of next month’s World Cup on the sub-continent.

Watson, who is tipped to claim his second successive Allan Border Medal next month as Australia’s player of the year, shared century partnerships with Brad Haddin (39) and Michael Clarke (36).

Steve Smith made only five at No.4. Australia needed 73 from the last 10 overs with seven wickets in hand.

Mike Hussey was Tim Bresnan’s second victim at 4-244 in the 43rd over.

But Cameron White proved a stable partner, scoring an unbeaten 25 to help guide Australia to victory.

‘‘It’s always nice to start the one-day series after the Ashes defeat,’’Watson said after claiming the man of the match award.

‘‘It’s a beautiful wicket so we always knew it (the total) was in reach. It was nice to be there at the end.’’

With World Cup spots on the line just three days before the 15-man squad is due to be announced, Australia bowled poorly at times on Sunday and missed six chances in the field.

Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee and spinners Smith and David Hussey took two wickets each for Australia who gifted England 14 wides.

Openers Andrew Strauss (63) and Steven Davies put England on target for a total of 350 with a 90-run stand in 12.1 overs.

David Hussey boosted his World Cup hopes by bowling Davies, whose demise came on 42 after four lucky escapes, including being caught off a no-ball by Lee.

When Eoin Morgan ( fell to Smith’s bowling England had slumped to 5-186.But Haddin failed to complete a stumping when Pietersen was on 37 facing Hussey, and the powerful hitter celebrated with two successive sixes later in the same over.

Johnson brilliantly booted the ball onto the stumps in his follow-through to complete a run out in the 44th over to remove Pietersen at 7-257.

In an emphatic statement to England’s selectors after being dropped from the side last year, Pietersen had belted three sixes and two fours.Australia rested strike bowler Shaun Tait because of back stiffness while England left out veteran batsman Paul Collingwood.

Bill Lawry’s Australian side, which beat England in January 1971 at the MCG, was presented to the crowd of 34,845 as Cricket Australia celebrated the 40th anniversary of the ODI game.