Australia launch new era with Sussex win

HOVE, England: Marcus Stoinis’s hundred laid the platform for victory as Australia beat Sussex by 57 runs here on Thursday in their first match since the ‘ball-tampering’ tour of South Africa.

Stoinis’s 110 was the cornerstone of Australia’s 277 for nine after they lost the toss.At one stage, with opener Aaron Finch making 78, Australia were set for a total well above 300 in this warm-up game for a five-match One-day International series against 2019 World Cup hosts England.

Finch’s exit, however, sparked a collapse that saw the world champions lose four wickets for 13 runs in 31 balls.But a target of 278 under the floodlights proved beyond Sussex, coached by former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie.

The south coast county finished on 220 all out, with 45 balls left when No 11 Abi Sakande was bowled by Jhye Richardson.Australia left-arm spinner Ashton Agar took three wickets for 64 runs in his maximum 10 overs.

Australia are looking to restore their reputation after one of the most humiliating episodes in their cricket history.Concerns a capacity 6,000 crowd here would give Australia a hard time proved largely unfounded until late on, when chants of “if you like sandpaper clap your hands” went around the ground.

And when one spectator asked Australia 12th man Nathan Lyon if he had any sandpaper in his pocket, the spinner replied: “Nah mate, just the Ashes.”

In addition to the banned trio, Australia arrived in England without injured fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, as well as sidelined all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.

Finch and the uncapped D’Arcy Short put on 74 for the first wicket.But left-arm spinner Danny Briggs struck with his third ball to have Short lbw for 21 on his way to figures of two for 42.

Finch completed a 54-ball fifty including eight fours.But he was dismissed when he feathered a pull through to wicket-keeper Ben Brown, the Sussex captain to end a second-wicket partnership of 93 with Stoinis.

Wickets then fell quickly, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (one) chipping leg-spinner Luke Wells to mid-off before Travis Head (two) was lbw to Briggs.Australia captain Tim Paine was caught and bowled by Wells for two.

Stoinis’s late-cut boundary off Wells saw him to a century off 103 balls, including eight fours and four sixes, before he holed out off Jofra Archer.Sussex’s reply started badly when Wells was run out for one after a mix-up with Phil Salt.

Salt hit a 33-ball fifty but was bowled for 62, playing over the top of a Kane Richardson full toss.Agar caught and bowled Harry Finch (45) before effectively ending Sussex’s hopes when he had Laurie Evans stumped by Paine for a brisk 57.Australia play Middlesex at Lord’s on Saturday before facing England at The Oval on Wednesday.