Durham: Graeme Swann picked up 5-28 as England cleaned up Australia for 176 and chased it down with four wickets in hand to avoid being the first side to lose a one-day international series 7-0.

World champions Australia still clinched the series 6-1, but surrendered their recently-regained status as the leading one-day side. The win did little for England’s horror show in the ODI series but made sure that they go into the Champions Trophy in South Africa on a winning note.

After being put into bat by Andrew Strauss, Australia got into early trouble with some much disciplined bowling by the new ball pair of James Anderson and Graham Onions.  Shane Watson (0) lasted only four balls before he edged one from Anderson to first slip where Swann completed a comfortable catch. Tim Paine, who scored 111 at Trent Bridge on Thursday, made only four before snicking a catch to wicketkeeper Matthew Prior off the returning Onions.

That left Australia tottering at 17-2 in the fourth over but Ponting and Clarke steadied the innings with a third-wicket stand of 79 during which the Australian captain overtook Pakistan’s Inzaman-ul-haq to move up to third in the all-time batting list.s Although Ricky Ponting made 53, Australia had no real answer to the off-spin of Swann.

Soon after reaching his 68^th ODI half century, Ponting mistimed a delivery from Swann to Collingwood at mid-on. Clarke was next to go when he was beaten by Eoin Morgan’s throw from fine leg and Swann bowled Cameron White for one to leave the Australians on 112-5.

James Hopes added 11 off 23 balls before he lobbed an easy catch to bowler Swann and the spinner removed Mitchell Johnson for 10 and Brett Lee in the same over. Swann conceded only 28 runs off his 10 overs and England’s other spinner, Owais Shah, caught Nathan Hauritz off his own bowling for three.

Facing a modest victory target of 177, England openers Strauss and Denly took few risks and moved slowly but comfortably to a half-century partnership in the 12th over. Strauss reached 47 with only four boundaries before he gave an easy catch to Ben Hilfenhaus off spinner Hauritz in the 21st over. By then, however, England appeared to be cruising at 106-1.

Denly went on to reach his half-century before the opener was run out by Ponting for 53. Then Ravi Bopara was leg before to Watson for 13 and Shah and Morgan gave catches to wicketkeeper Paine to depart cheaply and England was tottering 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 as they reached the total in the 40^th over.

Brief Scores:

England 177 for 6 (Denly 53) beat Australia 176 (Ponting 53, Swann 5-28) by four wickets

Man of the Match: Graeme Swann

Man of the Series: Cameron White

Tagged with: Andrew Strauss, Australia, Durham, England, Graeme Swann, Graham Onions, James Anderson, Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson, Tim Paine

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