David Hussey steered Australia to a four-wicket win over England in the third one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. Australia posted 215-6 to win with four overs to spare, after England scored just 214 from 48 overs - the third time in as many matches they have failed to last their full allotment of overs.
The home side take a 3-0 lead in the seven-match series, in which England are seeking a sixth consecutive ODI series win. The English total, which was anchored by Jonathan Trott's unbeaten 84, never looked enough, but Australia's top-order woes again opened the door to the tourists, as they slumped to 100-5 with four of the top five failing to reach double figures.
While Brad Haddin made a half-century before throwing his wicket away to part-time seamer Paul Collingwood (2-25), Australian captain Michael Clarke's poor run continued after he made just nine.
It was left to Hussey to steer the chase, making an unbeaten 68 from 89 balls, with support from Steve Smith (26) and John Hastings (18 not out).
Man-of-the-match Brett Lee (3-27) said Australia had turned the corner after a tough summer, including the 3-1 Ashes loss. Trott provided England's only innings of substance, as they attempted to avoid a third successive defeat after losses in Melbourne and Hobart.
Strauss said it was another poor batting effort.
England started poorly with wicketkeeper Matt Prior dismissed for his second successive duck at the top of the order since being recalled to the side, trapped lbw by Lee.
Eoin Morgan overcame a scratchy start to make 30, but holed out to Clarke at mid-wicket from a loose delivery by part-time spinner Hussey.
Collingwood, recalled to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen (groin) again failed with the bat and was bowled by spinner Xavier Doherty for one.
Doherty bowled impressively to finish with 2-37, and had a third wicket ruled not out on review. Hauritz requires surgery on a dislocated shoulder suffered in the field in Hobart and is a doubt for the World Cup, while Tait has a thigh strain.
The home side recalled Doherty to replace Hauritz and promoted allrounder John Hastings.
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SCOREBOARD
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ENGLAND:
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A. Strauss run out 23
M. Prior lbw Lee 0
J. Trott not out 84
I. Bell c and b Watson 10
E. Morgan c Clarke b Hussey 30
P. Collingwood b Doherty 1
M. Yardy c and b Doherty 7
L. Wright c Haddin b Hastings 32
C. Woakes c Haddin b Lee 12
A. Shahzad c White b Lee 4
C. Tremlett run out 1
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Extras: (lb3, w6, nb1) 10
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Total: (all out, 48 overs) 214
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Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-38, 3-61, 4-118, 5-119, 6-130, 7-179, 8-199, 9-208, 10-214.
Bowling: Lee 8-0-27-3 (1nb, 1w), Bollinger 8-0-36-0, Hastings 10-0-51-1 (3w), Watson 6-0-17-1, Smith 3-0-19-0, Doherty 10-0-37-2 (1w), Hussey 3-0-24-1 (1w).
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Australia:
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S. Watson b Tremlett 9
B. Haddin c Woakes b Collingwood 54
S. Marsh lbw Shahzad 6
M. Clarke c Yardy b Woakes 9
C. White lbw Collingwood
D. Hussey not out 68
S. Smith c Yardy b Tremlett 26
J. Hastings not out 18
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Extras: (lb7, w11) 18
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Total: (for six wickets, 46 overs) 215
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