David Hussey scored an unbeaten 68 and Brad Haddin added 54 as Australia beat England by four wickets Sunday for its third consecutive win to start the seven-match limited-overs international series.
Australia reached 215-6 on the last ball of the 46th over, surpassing England’s total of 214 all out from 48 overs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
England, which won the toss and elected to bat, was led by Jonathon Trott’s 84 not out. He was forced to bat conservatively with the tail in an attempt to stretch the innings after the top order had crumbled, leaving England at 130-6 in the 28th over.
Australian fast bowler Brett Lee took three wickets and was voted man of the match.
John Hastings hit the winning runs for Australia and finished unbeaten on 18.
Australia started poorly, slipped to 100-5 with Haddin the only top five batsman scoring double figures {hbox}” Shane Watson (9), Shaun Marsh (6), Michael Clarke (9) and Cameron White (7) all failed. But a 63-run stand between Hussey and Steve Smith (26) put Australia back in control.
England’s bowlers were led by Chris Tremlett (2—50) and al-—rounder Paul Collingwood, who took 2—25 including the wicket of Haddin.
Chris Woakes (1—31), making his one-day international debut, continued Clarke’s poor season with the bat, having him caught at midwicket.
Trott posted the only half century for England but his runrate was slowed by the loss of wickets around him.
England sorely missed the presence of South African-born batsman Kevin Pietersen, who was ruled out with a groin injury. He joined England fast bowler Tim Bresnan (calf) and Australian duo Nathan Hauritz (shoulder) and Shaun Tait (thigh) as casualties from Friday’s match in Hobart.
The fourth match in the series is Wednesday in Adelaide.
