CHESTER-LE-STREET, England, (Reuters) – England  avoided the indignity of becoming the first international side  to lose a one-day series 7-0 by recording a four-wicket victory  over Australia at the Riverside yesterday.

Spinner Graeme Swann proved the match-winner, taking five  wickets for 28 runs from his 10 overs as England, who won the  toss and chose to field, dismissed the tourists for just 176.

Swann took the key wicket of captain Ricky Ponting (53), who  chipped a catch to Paul Collingwood at mid-wicket, sparking an  Australian collapse as they lost their last eight wickets for 80  runs.

England began their chase brightly with captain Andrew  Strauss (47) and Joe Denly (53) putting on 106 for the first  wicket and the hosts appeared to be cruising to the modest  total.

However, Australia rallied with three wickets in 13 balls as  England wobbled on 141 for five and 162 for six, before Tim  Bresnan (10 not out) and Collingwood (13 not out) steered the  hosts home with more than nine overs to spare.

The teams now travel to South Africa for the Champions  Trophy with England playing Sri Lanka in Johannesburg on Friday  and Australia facing West Indies a day later.