ENGLAND stretched their winning run to 10 as they completed a 4-0 series victory over Australia with a seven-wicket triumph in the fifth one-day international at Old Trafford yesterday. Scores Australia 145 for 7 off 32 overs, England 138 for 3 off 27.1 overs.
Alastair Cook’s side required a Duckworth-Lewis target of 138 from 29 overs in the rain-shortened match in Manchester, after their change bowlers had inflicted a hapless collapse on Australia and restricted them to 145 for seven in 32.
An unbeaten 52 from Ravi Bopara and 58 from Cook ensured that the hosts coasted to their target with consummate ease with 11 balls remaining as Australia’s miserable tour ended in another ignominious defeat to their old rivals.
Earlier, medium-pacer Bopara, who was named man-of-the-match, also took two for three in seven balls – and despite top-scorer George Bailey’s unbeaten 46, Australia’s total remained decidedly vulnerable.