England's five-match one-day series against Australia begins at a sun-drenched Rose Bowl in Hampshire - the tourists' skipper Ricky Ponting wins the toss and elects to bat first
The Ashes may be five months away - but Tim Bresnan strikes an early blow for England with opener Shane Watson hit in the ribs when mistiming a pull shot in the sixth over
Watson hits six fours as he and Tim Paine add 52 for the first wicket, but Watson falls when another mistimed shot spoons up for Stuart Broad to take a return catch
Wicketkeeper Paine, deputising for Brad Haddin who misses this series with injury, makes 26 before a bowling change bears fruit as Paine chops Luke Wright's second ball onto his stumps
England claim the prize wicket of Aussie captain Ricky Ponting when he hooks Wright and is caught by Broad at fine leg for 21 - Australia are 86-3
England's tails are most definitely up in the Southampton sunshine as Cameron White - a dangerous one-day batsman - becomes the second Australian to chop the ball onto his stumps, to leave his side 98-4
Vice-captain Michael Clarke failed to score a run in Australia's first two tour matches against Ireland and Middlesex - but he stabilises the innings in a promising fifth-wicket stand with Mike Hussey
Hussey is caught behind for 28 on the first ball after a drinks break, but powerful all-rounder James Hopes (34) helps Clarke push the Australian score past 200
Although Hopes falls just after Australia take the batting powerplay with six overs remaining, Clarke is still there at the end to finish unbeaten on 87 as Australia make 267-7 from their 50 overs
With two new stands either side of the pavilion, the Rose Bowl now holds 18,500 - and there are only a handful of spare seats available as the sun begins to set and England begin their reply
Andrew Strauss and Craig Kieswetter shared an opening stand of 117 against Scotland on Saturday - but they are parted in the fourth over as skipper Strauss edges Ryan Harris to keeper Tim Paine
Kevin Pietersen said last week that he would be leaving Hampshire at the end of this season - and probably his last Rose Bowl innings as a Hampshire player ends when he is caught by Ponting at backward point for 29
Seamer Josh Hazlewood - thought to be Australia's youngest ODI debutant - picks up his first international wicket when he deceives Kieswetter and bowls him with a quicker ball - England are 81-3 in the 17th over
All-rounder Watson, sporting a long mane of fair hair, is celebrating again when he forces the experienced Paul Collingwood to give James Hopes an easy catch at mid-off - England are 97-4 in the 20th over
England's hopes appear to lie with Eoin Morgan - who has rescued them from a few scrapes in limited-overs cricket - and his characteristic brand of unorthodox and improvised shots
All-rounder Luke Wright supports Morgan well in an important fifth-wicket stand for England - smashing Watson for a straight six in the 32nd over
But after adding 95 with Morgan, Wright gives Ryan Harris his second wicket as he plays around a straight ball and is lbw for 36 from 48 balls - England still need to score 76 from 15 overs
Tim Bresnan (27) helps Morgan push England towards victory - and the Irishman hits the last ball of the 46th over for four to complete his century and seal the four-wicket victory
Morgan is deservedly named as man of the match after recording his third one-day international century - including one for Ireland and now two for England
Skipper Ricky Ponting must now try to lift his side ahead of the second one-day international of the five-match series, which takes place in Cardiff on Thursday
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