Australia whip England

Australia inflicted more torment on England as they raced to an eight-wicket victory in their triangular one-day series match under the influence of typically positive batting from Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting at The Oval on Thursday.

Needing 177 to win the last round-robin match of the competition, Australia rattled up 177 for 2, in only 30.1 overs, with Gilchrist scoring 80 off 90 balls and Ponting remaining unbeaten on 70. Michael Bevan was the other unbeaten batsman with four runs from 11 balls.

Gilchrist and Ponting completed a half-century stand from 45 deliveries, and Ponting raised the 100 total from 93 balls with a hooked six off Andrew Caddick.

England were dismissed for 176 from 43.2 overs, after Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee led the destruction by sharing five wickets.

Though the result of the game was academic because Australia and Pakistan have already reached Saturday's final at Lord's, Steve Waugh's side were quick to win a few more psychological points ahead of the Ashes series starting on July 5.

Having skittled England for 86 in their day-night encounter at Old Trafford last week, the Australians offered little respite here after the home team had won the toss on a fine and sunny morning in good batting conditions.

England are now in danger of being beaten in all six matches in the competition, which would extend their losing sequence in one-day internationals to 11 consecutive games.

The tone for Australia's combative out-cricket was set by McGrath. He bowled his opening burst to a close field of four slips and a gully that gave the limited overs contest the feel of a test match, and struck with the sixth delivery of the game which Marcus Trescothick played down into his stumps.

MCGRATH SHACKLES

Such were the shackles imposed by McGrath and Damien Fleming that England were restricted to one run in the first five overs, before skipper Alec Stewart and Nick Knight grew more assertive both with their running between the wickets and their strokeplay as they repaired the early damage by completing a half-century stand in the 15th over.

However, Australia checked their progress as Lee removed Stewart for 22 when the England captain drove him to Michael Bevan in the covers, and Ian Harvey accounted for Owais Shah for one, the batsman caught behind off an outside edge from a delivery that left him a shade.

Australia plunged England into further trouble when Alistair Brown, trying to defend against a lifting ball from Lee, succeeded only in deflecting it off his glove to Ricky Ponting in the gully. He also made just one and his side had declined to 59 for four in the 19th over.

When McGrath returned for his second spell he earned immediate reward as Paul Collingwood, on nine, drove loosely and edged to Harvey at first slip.

Once Knight fell to Fleming for 48 off 81 balls to reduce England to 109 for six, their prospects of setting a demanding target were in tatters, although Caddick helped to provide a spirited late flourish by hammering his one-day best of 36 off 44 balls.

Scorecard

Mail Cricket Editor