England crash to ninth consecutive defeat

Tony Lawrence

England collapsed to a humiliating ninth consecutive one-day international defeat on Thursday, making a rapid exit from a triangular tournament in the process, as Australia skittled them out for a record low score of 86 at Old Trafford.

The home side, set a rain-affected victory target of 212 off 44 overs at the Old Trafford, Manchester, were reduced to rubble by pace bowlers Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie, who shared the top five wickets to set up the 125-run win.

Leg-spinner Shane Warne and all-rounder Andrew Symonds then helped mop up the innings as England were dismissed for their lowest total in one-day international history in 32.4 overs. It is also their worst losing run ever.

The dramatic turn of events on what was expected to be a batting wicket means that England, having lost their first four matches, are already out of the competition with four first-phase matches still to play, leaving Australia and Pakistan to contest the June 23 final at Lord's in a repeat of the 1999 World Cup final.

McGrath finished with two for 19 off nine overs while Gillespie, bowling to a virtual Test-cricket field of four slips and a gully, took three for 25.

At that stage England, on 40 for six, were facing the prospect of being bowled out for the lowest total in one-day international history -- Pakistan's 43 against West Indies in Cape Town in 1993 -- but a lucky edge for four by all-rounder Dominic Cork got them past that black mark.

England's previous lowest score in one-dayers was 93, against Australia at Leeds in the 1975 World Cup.

Australia, who made 208 for seven in 48 overs before the target was revised under the Duckworth-Lewis method following two rain interruptions, have now won all three of their matches in the tournament while Pakistan have won two out of their three.

Captain Steve Waugh top-scored for the Australians with 64, but only four England players got into double figures.

Australia innings
England innings

Mail Cricket Editor