England claim Aussie scalps

Two leg-before decisions, for James Anderson and Paul Collingwood respectively, inside the first two blocks of powerplay, left Australia 64 for two after 17 overs.

Both were straightforward decisions for the umpire as Shane Watson was beaten for pace by Anderson in the fifth over of the innings and Tim Paine, who struck four boundaries in an inventive 29, was outfoxed by a Collingwood cutter.

That left Australia requiring five runs per over under the Rose Bowl floodlights to go 3-0 up in the seven-match campaign.

Strokeplay proved tricky on the sluggish surface and only England captain Andrew Strauss truly prospered.

Strauss once again held England's batting together but they failed to assert themselves in the pivotal, third match of the campaign.

When Strauss picked out opposite number Michael Clarke at midwicket off spinner Nathan Hauritz it meant England were in need of consolidation at 98 for four.

Irish-raised batsman Eoin Morgan, who manoeuvred the ball into gaps and also cleared the rope at long-on off James Hopes, hit 43, his highest international score since switching allegiance to England earlier this year.

The left-hander was eventually one of two wickets to fall in the batting powerplay, taken at the start of the 46th over and including just 24 runs, when he lobbed a low full toss from Brett Lee to mid-off.

Yorkshiremen Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom then chipped in with career-best one-day international scores, 31 not out and 24 respectively, to ensure England breached 200.