JOIN USDavid Warner and Shaun Marsh smashed fifties to complement their bowlers' efforts as Australia crushed England by seven wickets in the third one-day international in Sydney on Sunday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Warner blasted seven boundaries and two sixes in his 71 off just 70 balls at the top of the order while fellow left-hander Marsh remained unbeaten on 71 to anchor the chase as Australia maintained an utter dominance of their arch-rivals.
The hosts comfortably chased down their 244-run target with 10 overs to spare as England continued the search for a first win of their wretched tour Down Under.
Warner added 78 for the second wicket with Marsh before he hit Ben Stokes straight to Ian Bell at cover but there was little respite for England as Marsh and captain Michael Clarke then combined for a 51-run stand to take the team closer to victory.
Brad Haddin (37 not out) was promoted after Clarke (34) chopped Ravi Bopara onto his stumps and the Australia wicketkeeper continued his good form, racing to the target with Marsh with an unbroken stand of 72 in just 68 balls.
Earlier, England wasted a brisk start from openers Alastair Cook (35) and Ian Bell (29) to end on a below-par 243 for nine wickets in their 50 overs.
Most of England's batsmen got starts after captain Cook won the toss and opted to bat but they failed to convert them to big scores in the face of some tight bowling and outstanding fielding from Australia.
Cook's quickfire innings was cut short when Glenn Maxwell took a sharp catch at cover, while Warner found a direct hit from the outfield to run Bell out. Clarke also took a low catch at square leg to remove Stokes (15) before Daniel Christian dived full length to take a return catch off Eoin Morgan (54).
score board
ENGLAND
Cook c Maxwell b Coulter-Nile 35
Bell (run out) 29
Stokes c Clarke b Doherty 15
Ballance c Christian b Coulter-Nile 26
Morgan c & b Christian 54
Bopara c Haddin b Faulkner 21
Buttler b Christian 4
Bresnan (not out) 41
Broad c Haddin b Coulter-Nile 1
Jordan c Finch b Faulkner 10
Tredwell (not out) 2
Extras (LB-2, W-2, NB-1) 5
Total (for 9 wkts, 50 overs) 243
Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-70, 3-91, 4-121, 5-177, 6-186, 7-195, 8-198, 9-225.
Bowling: Faulkner 6-0-35-2, Pattinson 6-0-41-0, Coulter-Nile 10-0-47-3, Doherty 10-2-28-1, Maxwell 9-0-38-0. Christian 9-0-52-2.
AUSTRALIA
Finch c Bopara b Jordan 22
Warner c Bell b Stokes 71
Marsh (not out) 71
Clarke b Bopara 34
Haddin (not out) 37
Extras (LB-4, W-5) 9
Total (for 3 wkts, 40 overs) 244
Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-121, 3-172.
Bowling: Jordan 9-0-56-1, Broad 8-0-61-0, Bresnan 6-0-42-0, Tredwell 9-0-42-0, Bopara 5-0-16-1, Stokes 3-0-23-1.