Martyn digs Australians out of a hole

Australia's forgotten man Damien Martyn was the tourists' hero at Worcester as he hammered a superb century to rescue his country from a tight spot.

In partnership with Shane Warne (so often the scourge of English cricketers with the ball), the pair put on a fun-filled 148 for the seventh wicket in 30 overs to help the Aussies recover from the minor embarrassment of being 178 for six. They were eventually dismissed for 351.

Having asked for this fixture to be a one-day game to practise for the NatWest Series with Pakistan and England later this month, the Aussies had seemed to be treating it just like that when they raced to 55 off the first 11 overs - a run rate that was to entertain the sell-out crowd all the way through as it remained above four an over.

But they were also rapidly losing wickets to Worcester's fledgling attack.

Kabir Ali, who proudly removed Brian Lara in this corresponding Vodafone Challenge fixture last year, was first to strike, getting Matthew Hayden caught behind.

And, after Alamgir Sheriyar had captured Mark Waugh, driving to mid-off, Chris Liptrot (the pick of the home attack with 3-37) then nipped in to trap a disappointed Ricky Ponting in front for 24 before getting the big one, responding to 30 quick runs from Steve Waugh before removing the Aussie skipper's middle stump.

When Kabir had Michael Bevan (33) caught at gully with the first ball after lunch and Adam Gilchrist (21) followed, to deep point, giving Liptrot a deserved third wicket, things did not look as bright for the Aussies as the sun-kissed June weather.

But supposed one-day specialist Martyn - who has played just 11 Tests in nine years - and Warne rallied, hammering it to all parts, only to both become victims of a surge from slow left-arm spinner Matt Rawnsley (three for 90) of three wickets in four overs.

England Under-19 seamer Kabir (3-43) rounded things off by getting that adopted son of Worcester Glenn McGrath to end the innings.

And there was still time for Worcester to face 13 overs themselves, Anurag Singh and Graeme Hick shrugging off the early loss of Phil Weston to take the attack back to the Aussies and finish on 50-1.

Worcester might struggle to repeat their two-day win of 1989 but, with Hick unbeaten on 19 overnight, and needing runs to remind the selectors of his presence, it's all set up nicely for day two.