England avoid whitewash with 4-wkt win

Graeme Swann took 5/28 as England bowled Australia out for 176 on Sunday to prevent being the first side to lose a one-day international series 7-0.

Graeme Swann took 5/28 as England bowled Australia out for 176 on Sunday to prevent being the first side to lose a one-day international series 7-0. Although Ricky Ponting made 53 to become the third highest one-day scorer of all time,Australia had no real answer to the offspin of Swann. Michael Hussey contributed 49 and Michael Clarke 38 in a lacklustre performance by Australia.

Watson lasted only four balls before he edged a delivery from Jimmy Anderson to first slip and Tim Paine made four runs before snicking a catch to wicketkeeper Matthew Prior off the returning Graham Onions. At 17/2 in the fourth over,Australia were in a bit of trouble but Ponting and Clarke steadied the innings with a third-wicket stand of 79 during which the Australian captain overtook Pakistans Inzaman-ul Haq to move up to third in the all-time batting list.

Soon after he reached his 68th one-day half-century,Ponting mistimed a delivery from Swann to Collingwood at mid-on. Clarke followed next when he was beaten by Eoin Morgans throw from fine leg and Swann bowled Cameron White for one to leave the Australians on 112/5.

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James Hopes added 11 runs before he lobbed an easy catch to bowler Swann and the spinner removed Mitchell Johnson for 10 and Brett Lee in the same over to claim his career-best bowling figures. Facing a modest victory target,England openers Strauss and Denly took few risks and moved slowly to a half-century partnership in the 12th over. Strauss reached 47 with four boundaries before he gave an easy catch to Ben Hilfenhaus in the 21st over.

Denly went on to reach his half-century by hitting his eighth four off Hopes but the opener was run out by Ponting for 53. Ravi Bopara was leg before to Watson for 13 and Shah and Morgan gave catches to wicketkeeper Paine to depart cheaply as England were found wanting at 141/5. England scored off only one of the next 11 balls but,despite losing Prior for 11,made it to the victory target slowly but surely.

Brief scores: Australia 176 all out in 45.5 overs (R Ponting 53,M Hussey 49; G Swann 5/28) lost to England 177 for six in 40 overs (J Denly 53,A Strauss 47; S Watson 1/12)