England Let Victory Slip Away

Despite a 165-run opening stand between Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick in pursuit of 272 for victory, England somehow failed to muster the 107 runs required once that pair were separated in the 32nd over.

Australia's main bowler Glenn McGrath, returning from injury, was off the field with a back problem, but left-arm wrist-spinner Brad Hogg caused panic with three for 10 in 15 balls.

A frantic 41-run stand between captain Nasser Hussain and Alec Stewart, ended by man-of-the-match Damien Martyn's spectacular running catch at mid-wicket, gave England hope.

Hussain was still at the crease with 10 required from the final over, bowled by Shane Watson, but the captain was yorked by the third ball for a breezy 43 from 38 balls and with his departure went England's hopes.

Trescothick and Knight had given England the perfect start. Trescothick produced a collection of thumping cover-driven boundaries off McGrath and Brett Lee on his way to 85 while Knight was put down on three occasions before being bowled by Andy Bichel.

Trescothick followed for 82 when he sliced Martyn's part-time medium pace to substitute Andrew Symonds at point and England suddenly panicked.

Hogg dismissed Ian Blackwell (12 off 29 balls), promoted to number three, and Paul Collingwood who both top-edged sweeps and Owais Shah failed to clear Ricky Ponting at mid-wicket and England subsequently stumbled to 264 for seven after 50 overs.

Earlier, Martyn's unbeaten century helped Australia to 271 for four after Ponting, leading his country on his home ground for the first time, won the toss.

Martyn, who brought up three figures by paddle-sweeping the final ball of the innings, delivered by Andy Caddick, for four, rescued the hosts from 53 for three.

He shared in two century stands, firstly with Michael Bevan, who hit 52, before an undefeated 100-run partnership in tandem with Jimmy Maher, who finished with a run-a-ball 49 not out.

Australia re-grouped after youngster James Anderson showed his potential as an England bowler by striking twice with the new ball in his fourth one-day international.

Swinging the ball at a decent pace, he trapped Aussie dasher Adam Gilchrist (five) with a full-length delivery that shaped back into the left-hander in his first over, the second of the innings.

And he followed that with the scalp of Ponting, who edged another full delivery behind after hitting Anderson for four and a pulled six in the previous two deliveries.

The third big gun at the top of the order, Matthew Hayden, fell in Steve Harmison's first over of the morning when a delivery climbed on the tall left-hander, who spooned a cross-bat shot skyward and the bowler held on at the second attempt.