England end on a high

Australia well beaten at Old Trafford as hosts win series 4-0

England completed a 4-0 victory in the NatWest Series with Australia after cruising to a seven-wicket Duckworth-Lewis victory in the final one-day international at Old Trafford.

Skipper Alastair Cook (58) and Ravi Bopara (52 not out) sealed the win with a third-wicket stand of 92 which helped the hosts chase down a revised target of 138 with 11 balls to spare.
Rain during the day meant the contest was reduced to 32 overs each, with a further weather delay chopping three more overs off England's innings.
Australia had been put into bat in the overcast conditions but could only muster 145-7, a total that would have been even weaker had George Bailey not blasted an unbeaten 46 at the death.
The resulting chase rounded off a dominant display throughout the five-match series from England, who missed the chance to go top of the ICC ODI rankings when third contest at Edgbaston was washed out.
England were big favourites to take a 10th straight one-day international win as they started their reply, but suffered a less than ideal start as Ian Bell (four) chipped to midwicket off Clint McKay in the first over.

Progress

Progress was also interrupted by a short break as the bad weather briefly returned - and after the delay Jonathan Trott was bowled for 10 sweeping at slow left-armer Michael Clarke.
That left Cook and Bopara in a slightly uncomfortable situation, but the duo did not panic and began to build the required momentum, with the captain in the anchor role as he reached his first half-century of the series from 69 deliveries.
Bopara injected the spark England needed to stay on course in his run-a-ball 50, which he brought up just before Cook was well-caught at slip by Clarke off Ben Hilfenhaus. But by then the job was as good as done.
Australia had earlier suffered a dramatic collapse during the middle of their innings, which started at 5.30pm due to the adverse weather.
After David Warner and Matthew Wade put on an opening stand of 43, the tourists were put firmly on the back foot as they lost four wickets for just 12 runs, with two of those dismissals being run outs.
England did have chances before the glut of wickets, with Wade edging high to James Anderson, whose drop deprived fellow paceman Stuart Broad of the opening wicket.

Chances

The wicketkeeper-batsman was then put down on four, but the clearest opportunity was squandered by Samit Patel, who let a high one from Warner slip through his hands at third-man.
The breakthrough finally came when off-spinner James Treadwell, playing in his first ODI since last year's World Cup, trapped a sweeping Warner lbw in his opening over.
Tredwell's fine spell continued as his smart fielding caught Peter Forrest short of his ground, before the Kent spinner had Wade stumped for a disappointing 12 from 40 balls.
The wickets continued to tumble as a direct hit from Eoin Morgan ensured a Clarke single ended in disaster, while Bopara scuppered any comeback hopes as his four overs went for just eight runs and included two wickets, both caught behind by Craig Kieswetter.
From 86-6, Bailey and the tail tried to muster a defendable target, and even though the 29-year-old helped his side score 58 runs in the last 10 overs, England would not be denied.