Australia stun England to snatch final ODI win

AFP, Adelaide :Australia pulled off a stunning five-run victory over England in the fifth and final ODI at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday to sweep the series 4-1. England were bowled out on the fourth ball of the final over as the hosts fought back from what had looked like a losing position for most of the game. The visitors had restricted Australia to 217 for nine wickets with a tight bowling display, but ended up all out for 212 in 49.4 overs. Both sides found batting difficult on a day during which the bowlers were well on top on a slow drop-in pitch. England were unlucky at the death to lose Ravi Bopara to a ball that bounced off wicket-keeper Matt Wade and just removed the bails as the batsman’s foot lifted off the ground. The decision was a long-time coming but when Bopara, who hit 25, walked off England were in deep trouble on 209 for nine. Tail-ender Chris Jordan could not connect for a boundary and James Tredwell clipped Watson to the keeper with two balls remaining. Nathan coulter-Nile finished with figures of three for 34 runs off his 10 overs and Clint McKay, who did much of the final damage, took three for 36. For England, paceman Stuart Broad had led the charge, snaring three key wickets for 31 runs off his 10 overs including two maidens. Broad swung the ball both ways in a masterclass display to help compensate for some slapdash early England fielding. George Bailey top-scored for Australia with 56 off 74 balls while Joe Root hit 55 for England off 86 balls. Root fell flicking an attempted ramp shot to Xavier Doherty at short fine leg off James Faulkner at a time when England looked set to canter to victory. Wickets then tumbled rapidly and the home team celebrated Australia Day with a 4-1 series triumph on top of the 5-0 Ashes whitewash. England wrap up the tour with three T20 matches starting in Hobart on Wednesday, Melbourne on Friday and Sydney next Sunday.