July 7 (Reuters) - England rounded off a comprehensive
one-day international series defeat of four-times World Cup
winners Australia with an eight-wicket win in the fourth one-day
international at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
Ian Bell (69) and then Jonathan Trott, unbeaten on 64,
guided the hosts past their 201-run victory target with 13 balls
to spare.
"It's always nice to get one over. We want to make it 4-0.
When you're on top you want to stay on top," Bell told Sky
Sports.
Ravi Bopara (33 not out) and captain Alastair Cook (29)
provided able support in the victory that was first made
possible by the bowlers.
Steven Finn wreaked havoc among the Australian top order
claiming three of their top four batsmen as the lanky paceman
notched up player-of-the-match winning figures of 4-37.
Fellow seamers James Anderson (2-34) and Tim Bresnan (2-46)
supported Finn admirably in the absence of leading spin bowler
Graeme Swann, out with an elbow injury.
Australia, at one stage 96-6 in testing conditions after a
morning start, rallied through David Hussey (70) and bowler
Brett Lee (27) while captain Michael Clarke chipped in with a
dogged 43.
Though England chased the 201-run target with apparent ease
Trott said there was nothing simple about another
morale-boosting victory over their arch-rivals.
"I don't think any victory is straightforward. We played
good cricket, but it's one-day cricket so I don't think you can
draw too much from it."
The fifth and final ODI is at Old Trafford on Tuesday before
top-ranked test team England commence a three-match series
against South Africa at the Oval on July 19.
(Writing by Tom Pilcher, Editing by Alison Wildey)
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