LONDON, Sept 6 Mitchell Johnson's rapid unbeaten 43 helped lift Australia to a total of 249 for eight in the second One-day International against England at Lord's here on Sunday.

Johnson faced just 23 balls, hitting five fours and, together with Nathan Hauritz, shared an unbroken stand of 41 in 28 balls after the world champions were in danger of being bowled out inside their allotted 50 overs at 201 for eight in the 46th.

Callum Ferguson top-scored with 55, his second successive fifty after his man-of-the-match winning 71 not out in Australia's four-run win in Friday's first of a seven-match series at The Oval.Changes of pace once more proved tough for Australia's top-order to handle and, as Johnson showed when he teed off in the closing stages, runs were easier to come by against the frontline quicks.

Australia made a steady start after England captain Andrew Strauss again won the toss.

But from 62 without loss, Australia lost two wickets for two runs in eight balls to be 64 for two.

Pace bowler Tim Bresnan, one of two changes after coming replacing Yorkshire team-mate and leg-spinner Adil Rashid, broke the opening stand.

But it needed a fine catch by a leaping Luke Wright at short extra-cover to dismiss Shane Watson for 34, featuring five fours, off a hard-hit drive.

Tim Paine fell soon afterwards when a skied flick off the deceptively lively Wright was safely held by Eoin Morgan, in for the injured Stuart Broad (neck), at mid-wicket.

Wright then captured the prize wicket of star batsman Michael Clarke, captaining Australia in the absence of the resting Ricky Ponting, for four.

Clarke, trying to hook a short ball, could only glove through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

It now fell to Cameron White, who also made a fifty on Friday, and Ferguson to repair the damage.

They did so with a stand of 69 before occasional medium-pacer Ravi Bopara, struck first ball when White, on 42, trying to run him down to third man, got an edge which was well held by Prior, standing up to the stumps.

And 147 for four then became 155 for five when off-spinner Graeme Swann bowled Michael Hussey with a ball that turned past the outside edge as the left-hander pushed forward uncertainly.

Ferguson's 58-ball innings, featuring five fours, ended when he was bowled hitting across the line by James Anderson.

That gave the Lancashire quick his first wicket in five international matches, including the last two Tests of England's Ashes triumph.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA

S. Watson c Wright b Bresnan 34

T. Paine c Morgan b Wright 26

C. White c Prior b Bopara 42

M. Clarke c Prior b Wright 4

C. Ferguson b Anderson 55

M. Hussey b Swann 8

J. Hopes lbw b Swann 11

M. Johnson not out 43

B. Lee c Shah b Sidebottom 0

N. Hauritz not out 10

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-4, W-8) 16

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 249

FALL OF WKTS 1-62, 2-64, 3-73, 4-142, 5-155, 6-179, 7-201, 8-208.

DID NOT BAT N. Bracken.

BOWLING Anderson 9-0-57-1 (4w); Sidebottom 9-0-45-1 (2w); Bresnan 7-0-25-1 (1w); Wright 10-0-52-2 (1w); Collingwood 4-0-19-0; Swann 8-0-31-2; Bopara 3-0-12-1.

ENGLAND Andrew Strauss (captain), Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson.

UMPIRES Tony Hill (New Zealand) and Ian Gould (England).

TV UMPIRE Nigel Llong (England).

MATCH REFEREE Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka).—AFP