Mullally sends 8217;em reeling

Chasing a revised target of 153 runs off 36 overs after rain delayed the start of their innings, Australia were restricted to 145 for nine.

England, who batted first after captain Alec Stewart won the toss, had earlier struggled to 178 for eight from their full allotment of 50 overs.

Michael Bevan hit 56 and was the only player on either side to score a half-century but he was let down by his team mates.

Mark Waugh and Brendon Julian were the next highest for Australia, each making 23.

There was little hint of trouble for Australia as Waugh and Adam Gilchrist comfortably put on 24 for the first wicket but then Mullally struck.

The Englishman8217;s figures included aspell of four for 12 in the space of 27 deliveries. His previous best was three for 29 against Zimbabwe in Harare two years ago.

Three of Mullally8217;s wickets coincided with a dramatic Australian collapse of four wickets for the addition of just two runs as they fell to 48 for five.

Acting captain Shane Warne, standing in for the injured Steve Waugh, looked fortunate to escape a desperately close run out appeal before being comprehensively run out by a spectacular piece of fielding by Mark Alleyne, making his international debut.

After that, Bevan was unable to find support from the tailenders to scrape enough runs for victory.

Croft also bowled tidily, finishing with two for 24 off seven overs.

Earlier Neil Fairbrother top-scored with 47 for England after they lost Stewart to the first ball of the match.

The other main contributions came from opener Nick Knight 30, Croft 26 not out and Darren Gough 23 not out.

Glenn McGrath, Adam Dale and Damien Fleming each took two wickets forAustralia.

England next take on Sri Lanka in Brisbane tomorrow with Sri Lanka and Australia meeting in Sydney on Wednesday.

Warne said afterwards his side should have achieved the target.

8220;We should have chased 150 off 36 overs with the talent we have got in the side,8221; he said.

8220;They outplayed us in the last half of the game. We just needed one of our other top five batsmen to stick around with Bevan.8221;

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND: N Knight c Gilchrist b McGrath 30, A Stewart lbw Dale 0, V Wells b Dale 10, G Hick c Gilchrist b Fleming 8, N Fairbrother b McGrath 47, A Hollioake c Gilchrist b Fleming 5, M Alleyne run out 2, M Ealham c Ponting b Julian 14, R Croft not out 26, D Gough not out 23. Extras lb4, w8, nb1: 13. Total for eight wickets, 50 overs: 178.

Fall Of Wickets: 1-0, 2-29, 3-42, 4-72, 5-87, 6-93, 7-122, 8-136.

Bowling: McGrath 10-1-24-2, Dale 10-3-25-2 w2, Fleming 10-0-33-2 w-1, Julian 5-0-29-1 nb1, w2, Warne 10-0-42-0 w2, Blewett 5-0-21-0w1.

Australia: M Waugh c Stewart b Mullally 23, A Gilchrist b Mullally 13, R Ponting c A Hollioake b Mullally 8, D Martyn b Mullally 0, G Blewett c Stewart b Ealham 0, M Bevan not out 56, B Julian b Croft 23, S Warne run out 8, D Fleming c Mullally b Croft 2, A Dale b Gough 4, G McGrath not out 1, Extras lb2, w5: 7. Total for nine wickets, 36 overs 145

Fall Of Wickets: 1-24, 2-46, 3-47, 4-48, 5-48, 6-94, 7-117, 8-129, 9-142.

Bowling: Gough 6-0-47-1, Mullally 8-1-18-4, Ealham 7-1-16-1, Hollioake 7-1-31-1, Croft 7-0-24-2, Alleyne 1-0-7-0.