MELBOURNE, Jan 25: Australia wrapped up the triangular one-day series finals 2-0 by beating England by five runs in a tense finish at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Set a modest 230 to win in the second of the best-of-three series after Australia had made 229 for seven, England faltered against more fine fast bowling by Man-of-the-Match Brett Lee and were dismissed for 224 in 49.3 overs.

England, thrashed by 10 wickets in the first final on Thursday, looked to be coasting to victory as Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart scored 60 apiece.

Leg-spinner Shane Warne (2-58), who will retire from One-day Internationals after the World Cup, took both key wickets and was later chaired from the field on his home ground.

England fell away when Lee returned to the attack to lose their 13th consecutive one-day match against the world champions. Lee finished with five for 30 from 9.3 overs.

The tourists were 224 for eight with one over remaining, requiring just six runs to win, when Lee claimed his fifth wicket with the first ball of the over, yorking Andy Caddick for four.

Number 11 batsman Jimmy Anderson was almost run out first ball and gave wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist another chance next ball and the game and series were over after England had lost their last six wickets for 73.

After Australia won the toss and batted in 40-degree heat, their middle order failed miserably against Andy Caddick (2-23) and Ronnie Irani (3-46), slumping to 98 for four before scraping together 229 for seven.

Opener Matthew Hayden held Australia’s innings together with 69 runs from 91 balls before Brad Hogg, 31, scored his first half-century in One-day Internationals, finishing on 71 not out.

The left-handed batsman put on 48 in 29 balls for the seventh wicket with Lee before the fast bowler hit a catch to long-on and was out for 18 in the 46th over.

Hogg continued to blaze away, hitting eight boundaries and one six in his 77-ball innings as Australia’s tail wagged, adding 86 for the loss of three wickets in the last 10 overs.

Michael Bevan retired hurt for 10 in the 20th over after suffering a groin strain while attempting a quick single.

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, in his comeback game after returning to the squad following a groin injury, made the initial breakthrough in the 10th over when he had Gilchrist caught at mid-off for 26.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting was out for one to the bowling of Caddick and Damien Martyn soon followed for 11, caught behind off Caddick.

All-rounder Andrew Symonds did little to further his cause for a place in the starting eleven next month when he was bowled by Irani for eight at 98 for four in the 29th over, bringing Hogg to the crease.

Hayden put on 49 for the fifth wicket with Hogg before he holed out to deep mid-wicket off Irani who then claimed Warne for a duck two balls later as Australia crashed to 148 for six before Hogg, Lee and Andy Bichel (11 not out) resurrected the innings.

Lee dismissed both openers for the second time in two finals when he removed Marcus Trescothick for a duck and Nick Knight for five.

Captain Nasser Hussain made 28, putting on 68 for the fourth wicket with Vaughan, but fell to left-arm wrist spinner Hogg in the 24th over attempting a leg-side slog.

Vaughan added 63 from 74 balls with Stewart, leaving Paul Collingwood (25 not out) and Flintoff (16) to continue the chase.

Lee took three wickets in seven balls, removing Flintoff and Ian Blackwell (1) in the 48th over and Caddick in the last over for another Australian triumph.

Scoreboard

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