London: Fast bowler Steven Finn led England’s attack in the absence of the injured James Anderson as Australia were held to 251/7 in the second One-day International at The Oval here on Sunday.
Middlesex paceman Finn took an economical 1/36 in nine overs after Anderson suffered a groin problem.
Australia, looking to level this five-match series at 1-1 after a 15-run defeat across London at Lord’s on Friday, saw opener Shane Watson top-score with 66 and George Bailey make a career-best 65.
The tourists’ innings was often becalmed, with a mere 24 runs coming in a 10-over spell from overs 21 to 30 inclusive.
But some late-order hitting from Brett Lee, dropped twice by Eoin Morgan off Jade Dernbach on his way to 20 not out, bolstered the total.
England had an early breakthrough when David Warner, who made a fifty on Friday, holed out after mistiming a pull off Finn.
But they missed a chance when Watson, on eight, aimed across the line at Dernbach, towards gully where a diving Jonathan Trott dropped the chance.
Australia are without Patrick Cummins, who suffered a side strain in the first ODI and will be returning home. (AFP)
