Aussies avoid whitewash

LONDON (AP):

Australia avoided the possibility of a series whitewash by beating England by 78 runs in the fourth one-day international at The Oval yesterday.

Ryan Harris took 5-32, Doug Bollinger, 2-38, and Steven Smith, 2-59, as England were bowled out for 212 in 42.4 overs, chasing Australia's challenging total of 290-5.

Michael Yardy was England's top scorer with 57 from 63 balls, including five fours, but the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals, with paceman Harris particularly impressive with the ball.

Earlier, Australia's Michael Clarke had been left stranded on 99 not out, a 106-ball knock that included seven fours, but was denied a century when Steven Smith (18 not out) faced the last five balls of the team's innings.

Clarke shared a third-wicket partnership of 155 with Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who made 92 from 93 balls, including 10 fours.

England, who now hold a 3-1 lead in the five-match series, won the toss and put Australia in to bat on a wicket that appeared typically helpful for batsmen. And for the first time in the series, the tourists failed to put on 50 for the first wicket.

Tim Paine made eight from 22 balls before his frustration induced a rash stroke off Tim Bresnan, with Eoin Morgan taking the catch at extra cover.

Graeme Swann claimed a wicket with his third delivery when Shane Watson (41), the other opener, again squandered a promising start by slog-sweeping straight to Morgan at deep mid-wicket in the 17th over, to the visible disgust of his captain.

Fierce drive

That brought Clarke to the crease, and he and Ponting put on a vital stand for the third wicket after making the most of an escape for Clarke, who was on five when he hit a fierce drive that stung James Anderson's hands and was dropped.

Ponting scored his 13,000th run in one-day internationals with a single from Yardy in the 26th over, to warm applause from the crowd, before reaching his 50, from 56 balls, with two from Luke Wright four overs later.