LONDON, (Reuters) – England survived a late assault by the Australian fast bowlers yesterday to win the third one-day international by one wicket with five balls to spare and clinch the five-match series against the world champions 3-0.
The victory at Old Trafford in Manchester follows last year’s Ashes triumph and this year’s Twenty20 World Cup final win over their oldest rival. England will defend the Ashes in Australia later this year.
England, chasing a modest 213 to win, appeared to be cruising after captain Andrew Strauss struck a composed 87 and Twenty20 skipper Paul Collingwood scored 40.
But Shaun Tait, bowling at express pace and regularly exceeding 145 kms an hour, took three for 28 and left-armer Doug Bollinger returned late in the innings to clean bowl Graeme Swann for one and Stuart Broad for a duck. With England still needing 10 to win and the last pair at the crease, Tim Bresnan struck a boundary off Ryan Harris and another in the final over off James Hopes to take England across the line. After Strauss had won the toss and asked Australia to bat, Shane Watson and Tim Paine got their side away to a fast start.
Paine was particularly severe on England seamer Bresnan, and the openers plundered 75 runs before left-arm spinner Michael Yardy trapped Paine lbw for 44.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting was deceived by the flight of off-spinner Swann and was stumped for three, and Watson, on 61, top-edged the same bowler to Strauss at square leg.
