Shane Watson took three wickets as Australia held England to 228 for nine in the third one-day international at the Rose Bowl here on Wednesday. All-rounder Watson took three wickets for 36 runs in eight overs as Australia looked to go 3-0 up in the seven-match series. England were indebted to a ninth-wicket stand of 40 in 41 deliveries between Tim Bresnan (31 not out off 37 balls) and Ryan Sidebottom,out off the last ball for 24 to Watson. Only England captain Andrew Strauss (63) and his Middlesex team-mate Eoin Morgan (43) managed more than Bresnan as the top-order again collectively failed. Strauss won his third straight toss but this time decided to bat first. In the third over,Strauss struck three consecutive fours off Brett Lee and Ravi Bopara followed up by going down the pitch to drive Nathan Bracken for six,but holed out trying the same shot soon after. Matt Prior was out for a duck when his pull of Mitchell Johnson was held by a diving James Hopes at square leg. Johnson struck again with Owais Shah's questionable lbw. Strauss,who completed a 60-ball fifty with six fours,fell next to Nathan Hauritz. England didn't take their five-over batting powerplay until late in the innings,when they managed just 24 runs for the loss of two wickets. Brief score: England 228 for 9 in 50 overs (A Strauss 63,E Morgan 43; S Watson 3/36) vs Australia.
