Gregor Mactaggart, Sportal
A fine 110 from recalled batsman Shaun Marsh has lifted Australia to a defendable 230 in Friday’s second Commonwealth Bank Series one-day international at Bellerive Oval.
And the compact left-hander had unlikely ally Doug Bollinger to thank for helping him reach his second ODI century in Hobart.
When Bollinger joined Marsh at the crease in the 37th over, Australia were in real strife at 8-142, with Marsh fast running out of partners on 59 not out.
What happened next over the next 51 minutes was as remarkable as it was entertaining as the pair set a new ninth-wicket record of 88, surpassing the previous mark of 77 set by Michael Bevan and Shane Warne against the West Indies.
Bollinger, who had hit only four runs in his ODI career before heading to the crease, mixed genuine unorthodoxy with power off the back foot.
He hit three boundaries in a valuable run-a-ball 30 before falling in the penultimate over when he skied a catch to Ajmal Shazhad off Chris Tremlett.
Marsh, the son of former Australian player Geoff, made the most of his opportunity after being called into the side as a replacement for injured batsman Michael Hussey.
The Western Australian hit eight fours and two long sixes during his 114-ball knock which ended when he was the last man to fall, caught by Ian Bell on the deep mid-wicket boundary off Chris Tremlett’s bowling.
It closed the book on a memorable knock for Marsh, who, having come to the crease with the home side languishing at 4-33, shared a 100-run fifth wicket stand with Cameron White.
White, who was rapped on his right index finger by beanpole paceman Tremlett early in his knock, buckled down to illustrate he’s not just an attacking batsman.
Happy to play a supporting foil to Marsh, who brought up his half-century off 64 balls, White played with great maturity until he spooned a catch back to bowler Michael Yardy on 45.
Marsh then saw Steve Smith (0), Nathan Hauritz (2) and Brett Lee (0) fall in quick succession before Bollinger’s heroics.
Earlier, the three-pronged English seam attack ripped the heart out of the Australian top-order.
Ajmal Shazhad did the early damage, dismissing openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin, during a spell that saw him have the figures of 2-9 from five overs.
Watson was unable to repeat his MCG heroics and chopped on when on five, the same score Haddin had when Shazhad found an inside edge which also dragged back onto the stumps.
Captain Michael Clarke (10) came out with positive intent and hit one lofted boundary through mid-on, but he was the third batsman to fall when he hit a Tim Bresnan long-hop straight to Ian Bell at point.
It was soon 4-33 when David Hussey (8) was taken sharply by Andrew Strauss at gully off Tremlett.
Tremlett was the best of the England bowlers with 3-22 off 9.2 overs, while Shazhad (3-43) impressed yet again.
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