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Graeme Swann’s five-wicket haul denied Australia a whitewash of their series against England in the final one-day cricket match at the Riverside on Sunday.
The off-spinner’s career-best one-day figures of 5-28 helped bowl the Australians out for 176 inside 46 overs, and England reached their target of 177 with 60 balls to spare for a four-wicket victory thanks largely to a half-century by opener Joe Denly.
Australia had to settle for a 6-1 series triumph after their bowlers failed to make the early breakthrough needed to defend such a small total, with Denly (53) and Andrew Strauss (47) putting on a 106-run stand for the first wicket.
Captain Ricky Ponting was pleased with the character shown by his side, who dropped from first to third in the world rankings.
“We got off to a horrendous start with the ball, but the guys dug deep and kept trying their hardest right to the end,” he said.
“To get as close as we did was a good result. The last few weeks have been terrific for us.”
England counterpart Andrew Strauss admitted the win was a relief.
“We’re not going to get carried away with it,” he said.
“We still lost the series 6-1, but it was a good bowling performance today.
“We probably still made heavier weather of it than we should have done, but it’s a win and something to move forward with.”
Strauss was out for a fifth time this series to Australian off-spinner Nathan Hauritz when he attempted a reverse sweep and sent a top edge to Ben Hilfenhaus at short third man.
Denly was run out by a sharp throw from Ponting to wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who swiftly removed the bails, but by then England were cruising.
Even when the hosts lost 3-8 in the space of 13 balls, they managed to salvage some pride as Paul Collingwood (13 not out) and Tim Bresnan (10 not out) saw them through.
Australia were in trouble early with England paceman James Anderson striking on the fourth ball of the match when Shane Watson (nought) was caught at slip by Swann.
Paine (four) followed shortly after when debutant Graham Onions had him caught behind by Matthew Prior.
Ponting and Michael Clarke steadied the innings with a 79-run partnership.
But Swann came into the attack with immediate effect when Ponting (53 off 67) looked to drive his fifth delivery, which turned sharply, and spooned the ball to Collingwood at midwicket.
Clarke faced 81 balls for his 38 before being run out, and Swann then accounted for player-of-the-series winner Cameron White (one).
James Hopes (11) sent an easy caught-and-bowled to Swann after getting a leading edge.
With Mike Hussey (49) looking comfortable, the Australians needed one of their big-hitting bowlers to stay in the middle.
But Mitchell Johnson (10) also fell to Swann, caught by Anderson, as did Brett Lee (nought), bowled and farewelled with a cheeky imitation of his own heel-kick celebration.
When Hussey hit a Bresnan delivery straight to Denly at mid-off, he left Hilfenhaus not out two.
Playing his first match since the Ashes, fast bowler Hilfenhaus had a poor opening spell of four overs, in which he conceded 32 runs and sent down a rash of no balls along with a beamer that Denly managed to dodge.
Summing up his day, Hilfenhaus overstepped to hand England the winning run.
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