EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) Australia convincingly beat Scotland by 200 runs Tuesday in their one-off ODI after an outstanding partnership between centurions Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh.
The Australians, searching for a boost of confidence after their Ashes loss in England in July and August, lay a perfect foundation after they were sent in to bat by stand-in Scottish skipper Preston Mommsen. In the best opening stand for Australia in ODI history, Finch and Marsh put on 246 runs together as the Scotland bowlers only managed three wickets in 50 overs. Marsh (151) played a measured and disciplined innings, while Finch took to a more brash approach to dealing with the Scottish attack, scoring 148 off 146 balls.
Australia finished with 362-3 and then bowled Scotland out for 162.
Australia demonstrated the textbook use of a batting powerplay, scoring 64 runs off the five overs. Finch lashed out in the period, smashing four fours and three sixes, and propelling his team's run rate to 7.24 runs an over.
After lunch, it took less than two overs for the dismantling of Scotland to begin, with spearhead quickster Mitchell Johnson trapping Coleman on the pads for 1. After 12 overs Scotland was 31-3. Australian spinner Fawad Ahmed claimed his first ODI wicket on debut, with two wickets in two overs quickly sending the home side to 85-6. James Faulkner chipped in with 2 wickets,
Some upper-order resistance was shown from Matt Machan, who looked promising before falling to Falkner on 39. By the 31st over the Scottish run rate slowed to just over three runs an over, as a draw became the desired result.
A late surge by Scotland came in the form of a partnership worth 39 runs between Haq and Goudie who, despite allowing the run rate to spiral out of reach, provided a wagging tail that frustrated the Australian attack. Two down-the-ground sixes from Gordon Goudie delighted the home crowd before Majid Haq fell to a shorter ball from Mitchell Johnson for 24 to break up the partnership.
The conservative tactics by the lower-order Scottish batsmen nearly paid off, as the Scots came within six overs of scraping a draw.
Johnson was the pick of the Australian bowlers, ending the game with figures of 36-4. Debutant Fawad Ahmed bowled the maximum 10 overs, concluding on 39-1.