Comfortable Win For Australia Puts Them 3-0 Up

Comfortable Win For Australia Puts Them 3-0 Up

Brad Haddin made 54 as Australia dispatched England for a third time in the series

©REUTERS/Rick Stevens (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Half-centuries from Brad Haddin and David Hussey steered Australia to a comfortable four-wicket victory over England in the third One-Day International at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Scorecard

After England were dismissed for 214, Haddin made 54 and Hussey 68 not out to put Australia 3-0 up in the seven-match series with four overs to spare as they closed on 215 for six.

England's score never looked like being a winning one and as they did in the second game in Hobart they started poorly when Matthew Prior fell without scoring.

Jonathan Trott propped up the innings by scoring an unbeaten 84 in 119 balls but no other player could reach a half-century, Australia's bowlers performing well.

They were led by Brett Lee, who returned three for 27, and left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty, who took two for 37.

Luke Wright made 32 and Eoin Morgan 30 but they were hardly the contributions that England required.

Haddin then led Australia's reply from the top of the order but a flurry of wickets saw them slip to 92 for four and the match was in the balance.

And when Haddin, who hit seven fours and a six, was dismissed, Australia were 100 for five. However, they found a cool head in Hussey to guide them home and he did so with aplomb.

He formed crucial partnerships with Steven Smith, who made 26, and John Hastings who was not out on 18.

Hussey reached his half-century with a six and despite England's best efforts with the ball - Chris Tremlett and Paul Collingwood taking two wickets - Australia proved too strong.

The fourth match in the series is in Adelaide on 26th January.

© Cricket World 2011