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Page last updated at 11:02 GMT, Sunday, 30 January 2011

England collapse to series defeat in Australia

Fifth one-day international, Brisbane:
Australia 249 (49.3 overs) beat England 198 (45.3 overs) by 51 runs

Match scorecard

Australia celebrate the crucial wicket of England skipper Andrew Strauss
Australia celebrate the crucial wicket of England skipper Andrew Strauss

By Sam Sheringham

Australia ripped through England's batting order to seal a one-day series victory with two matches to spare.

The hosts were restricted to 249 all out in Brisbane as Chris Woakes became only the second Englishman to take six wickets in a one-day international.

But England's pursuit of a modest target faltered as they fell to 22-3.

Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell offered hope but their dismissals sparked a collapse to 198 all out as Australia took an unassailable 4-1 lead.

It was another insipid display from England's batsmen, whose poor form is a major source of concern ahead of next month's World Cup in the subcontinent.

No England player made a half-century, with most of the top order falling to poorly-executed attacking shots, which either picked out a fielder or, in the case of Matt Prior, led to his stumps being flattened.

With two matches to play in the series, only Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen are averaging more than 30, with Andrew Strauss, Prior and Ian Bell all desperately struggling to reproduce their Test match prowess in the one-day game.

Indeed, the fact that number 11 Steve Finn was third top scorer on his debut with 35 - in an England record 10th-wicket stand of 53 with James Anderson - should leave the team's more celebrated batsmen with plenty to ponder.

In contrast, England's selectors will be heartened by another efficient bowling display, underpinned by a sensational performance from Woakes, who recorded figures of 6-45.

Playing in only his second one-day international, the 21-year-old became just the second England player in 548 one-day internationals to take more than five wickets - the first being Paul Collingwood, who took 6-31 against Bangladesh in June 2005.

Chris Woakes
Woakes produced the best bowling of his limited-overs career

And although the Warwickshire seamer's rise has come too late to make the World Cup squad, it will be of some comfort to know a bowler of his calibre is waiting in the wings should one of the front-line pacemen suffer an injury during the tournament.

Woakes struck with his second ball to break an opening partnership of 48 when Shane Watson slashed straight to Collingwood at point.

Finn, making his one-day bow in place of the injured Chris Tremlett, also made an impressive impact, bowling with good pace and line and gaining his reward when Brad Haddin stepped across and was bowled through his legs for 37.

Shaun Marsh chipped Collingwood's first delivery straight to Strauss and Cameron White was caught behind off a superb delivery from Woakes, which moved away off the seam and bounced steeply before taking the edge.

David Hussey and Michael Clarke added 65 for the fifth wicket before Hussey dragged a Woakes delivery onto his stumps for 34 to give the 21-year-old his third wicket.

Captain Clarke, who entered the arena to a chorus of boos, made a battling half-century but, just when he appeared to be rediscovering his very best form, he mis-timed a pull shot and skied the ball to Strauss.

Australia were given a boost by a ragged 45th over from Shahzad, who conceded 15 runs, but in the next James Anderson arrowed a delivery through Mitchell Johnson's defences.

John Hastings clobbered three boundaries before holing out to give Woakes his fifth wicket and two balls later Brett Lee cut the ball straight to third man.

606: DEBATE
Kapstif

An injury to Shahzad - who later batted with a runner - meant Trott had to bowl the last over and Australia looked set to take full advantage when Doug Bollinger smashed the first ball for four.

But two deliveries later, Australia's last pair attempted a risky second run and Bollinger was run out following a fine throw from Anderson.

England's reply was swiftly undermined by two wickets in two balls.

Prior totally missed a straight ball from Brett Lee and was bowled, while Strauss pulled a short one from Doug Bollinger straight into the hands of Steven Smith at square leg.

The wickets continued to tumble in the next over as Jonathan Trott steered Lee round the corner and was caught by Bollinger at short fine leg.

Pietersen and Bell set out rebuilding the innings, maintaining a healthy pace in bringing up the 50 partnership in 60 balls.

Pietersen, scoring at a run-a-ball, was fortunate to escape on 34 when Smith floored a tricky caught and bowled chance.

But the England batsman's reprieve was short-lived as a slower ball bouncer from Hastings tempted him into a pull shot, which flew straight up into the air and was easily caught by Lee.

Eoin Morgan, so often England's saviour in the one-day game, holed out to long-off before Shane Watson accounted for Collingwood and Woakes in the same over.

Haddin then pulled off an athletic one-handed catch to remove Shahzad and leave England in tatters on 145-9.

Finn and Anderson (20 not out) frustrated the Australians with some meaty hitting before Watson clinched the victory by bowling Finn for his highest score in any form of cricket.

The match was used to help raise funds for victims of the devastating floods in Queensland state.

Players donated their match fees and shirts, while Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and former Australia opener Matthew Hayden dished out sausages to fans at a free barbecue.



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see also
Strauss angry after England slump
30 Jan 11 |  England
Australia v England photos
30 Jan 11 |  England
Pietersen buoyed despite injuries
29 Jan 11 |  England
Trott ton sets up England victory
26 Jan 11 |  England
England in Australia 2010-11
08 Oct 09 |  Cricket
Cricket World Cup 2011
09 Mar 11 |  Cricket


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