Maxwell hits century in warm-up
Pat Cummins XI beat Aaron Finch XI by eight wickets in the intersquad game in Southampton.
SOUTHAMPTON (Web Desk) - Glenn Maxwell hit a century in his first innings since the Big Bash final in February and Marcus Stoinis produced an impressive all-round display with 87 and four wickets in Australia s latest warm-up match ahead of the England series.
This intersquad game was played across 50 overs and saw the Pat Cummins XI get home by two wickets chasing 250 after Maxwell (108) and Stoinis had added 174 in 26 overs for the third wicket. Earlier, AJ Tye top-scored for the Aaron Finch XI with 59 as that top-order stuttered to 113 for 6 before recovering.
Maxwell s last appearance for Australia was in the T20I series against Sri Lanka at the end of October, but neither he or Stoinis have appeared in the ODI team since the World Cup when the pair had disappointing returns.
They came together at 9 for 2 following early wickets for Mitchell Starc, who trapped Matthew Wade lbw second ball for a duck, and Riley Meredith who bounced out Steven Smith leaving him flat on his back in the crease.
The boundaries flowed between Maxwell and Stoinis with both striking two sixes in their dominant partnership before Meredith removed Stoinis 13 short of a hundred with a yorker from around the wicket.
"It took a bit of time to get used to the wicket, but it was nice to get some rhythm," Maxwell said. "That s all you can hope for as a middle-order batter, is a fight for spots and for guys to put their hands up and make some big scores and give the selectors something to think about.
"Can t just have Warner, Finch and Smith making runs all the time, we ve got to have other guys contributing as well."
The Cummins XI fell from 215 for 3 to 249 for 8 as Nathan Lyon claimed three wickets before the target was ticked off.
Adam Zampa had produced an eye-catching spell with the ball during the first innings as he removed Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Philippe with a brace of wrong uns. David Warner had again looked in good touch making 34 off 44 balls before he edged behind off Cummins.
The Finch XI s lower order more than doubled the total as Tye, who has a List A high score of 28 not out, Starc and Daniel Sams - the latter batting twice to make up the XI - muscled the ball around the ground. Stoinis, who has spoken of his belief that he can add value to the Australia limited-overs sides with his death bowling, claimed three late wickets.
