B'day boy Martyn propels Aus to emphatic 6-wicket win over Eng

Jaipur, Oct 21 (UNI) Birthday boy Damien Martyn entertained crowd with pyrotechnics on the Diwali day as Australia defeated Ashes rivals England by six wickets in an ICC Champion's Trophy Group A match here at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium to keep their hopes alive.

Martyn blasted 78 in 91 balls and added 118 runs (off 169 balls) for fourth wicket with Michael Hussey (32 not out in 85 balls) as the Aussies made no-contest of the so-called Ashes prelude romping home with 13.1 overs to spare.

Virtually out of the competition after second defeat in consecution, England dug their own grave squandering a wonderful start to set a meagre winning target of 170 for their rivals.

The World Champions, on the other hand, showed a great heart and bounced back from a disastrous start to overhaul the target comfortably.

The departure of the top three -- Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting -- for just 34 in seventh over notwithstanding, Martyn, who turned 35th today, looked ominous and opened his account with a boundary off Sajid Mahmood. He turned the table on to the English bowlers and singled out Stephen Harmison for a special treatment welcoming the bowler with a pull to the mid-wicket boundary.

He followed it up with two more fours on the onside. As if it was not enough, he plundered 13 runs off Harmison's next over, thus forcing Andrew Flintoff to take the bowler out of attack.

With Hussey playing perfect foil to Martyn, the latter began to cut loose and hit one and all over the park. Dropped at 48 by Paul Collingwood off James Anderson, Martyn glanced spinner Michael Yardy to the fine leg for a couple to complete his half-century in just 35 balls with nine shots to the fence. Martyn slowed down considerably after completing his half-century. He was finally undone by Steve Harmison as he edged the bowler behind the wicket.

Hussey, meanwhile, was satisfied rotating the strike and playing the second fiddle. The southpaw scored his first boundary after 67 deliveries smashing Mahmood through covers. Together with Andrew Symonds (8 not out), he ensured there were no further hiccups for the World Champions.

The Australian top-order, however, failed today after showing some sparks initially. Adam Gilchrist smashed Mahmood to consecutive boundaries in the second over but the bowler had the last laugh as he castled the southpaw after match resumed following a 10-minute interruption due to a power failure. Australia were 30 for one in the fourth over.

Ricky Ponting (1) continued to struggle for runs and edged Mahmood to the slips where Andrew Strauss took a gem of a catch. Shane Watson, who looked all set, fell next trying to pull Anderson but only managing to drag the ball onto the stumps. Earlier, England flattered only to deceive again, squandering a solid start as Australian bowlers bounced back to clean up the arch rivals for a paltry 169 in 45 overs. Openers Andrew Strauss (56) and Ian Bell (43) laid the foundations well before the middle-order collapsed inexplicably and handed the Aussies advantage in the eagerly anticipated match.

Wary of the dew factor, Australians took on to the field after winning the toss. For once, the decision seemed like going horribly wrong with the openers giving England a sound start and added 83 for the first wicket in 19 overs. England started cautiously with both Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell circumspect in the initial overs. Both the openers got into the mojo soon and Bell flicked Nathan bracken through mid wicket in the fourth over to bring the first boundary of the innings.

Strauss resorted to some willow-wielding in sixth over when he welcomed Glenn McGrath with back-to-back boundaries.

Martyn dropped Bell off McGrath at mid off when the batsman was at 23. England completed their 50 in the 11th over. Ponting introduced Shane Watson in the 19th over and the move paid off instantly when Bell, tried to slash the bowler over the point only to be caught by Michael Hussey. Bell faced 60 balls and hit seven fours.

The wicket triggered the collapse and it seemed that Englishmen had a flight to catch. Kevin Pietersen (1) survived only six balls before edging Johnson to wicketkeeper while skipper Flintoff (4, 15 balls) pulled Watson straight to Hussey in the deep. England were left reeling at 110 for three in the 26th over.

Holding one end together, Strauss showed application and looked in complete control. He smashed Brett Lee to point for a four and followed it up with a single in the 25th over to complete his half-century in 78 balls.

However, England received a body blow the southpaw also gave in trying to cut Andrew Symonds only managing to nick to Adam Gilchrist. Strauss made 56 in 90 balls with six boundaries.

Rest of the batsmen offered little resistance and with the exception of Paul Collingwood (23 no out, 38 balls) and James Anderson (15, 19balls, 2x4) none of them reached the double figures. With McGrath getting the better of Anderson, England were bundled for 169 with five overs remaining.

For Australia, Watson was the wrecker-in-chief and returned with the figures of three for 16 in his seven overs. Left arm seamer Mitchel Johnson, who replaced Brad Hogg in the XI, took three for 40 in 10 overs while McGrath came back strongly in the second spell to end up two for 36.

UNI