Brit Oval , 12th July - England struggled in their allotted 50 overs in the final One Day International before the 2005 Ashes series scoring a modest 7 for 228. It could have been a lot worse for the home side after loosing their first four wickets for 74 with only Strauss (36) and Vaughan (15) reaching double figures. Match Scorecard

Both McGrath and Lee found their immaculate line and length early on, mcGrath bowling four maidens with his first four overs and was very unfortunate not to make it five from five when Gillespie dropped Vaughan at deep backward square, the batsmen crossing for two runs. the following over, Strauss has a lucky escape when Gilchrist fails to take a difficult chance retreating towards the boundary following a top edge. Two dropped catches in as many overs, Australia could have been made to pay for the mistakes.

Pay they didn't. Kasprowicz was introduced into the attack and his very first over the captain fielding at backward point broke the stumps, Vaughan left stranded by a foot. Kasprowicz halted a small fightback from England when he send Strauss back, edging the ball to Gilchrist who held on to take a simple catch. The decision to go around the wicket paid dividends for Kasprowicz and England were now 3 - 63. Kasprowicz and Gilchrist combined for a second time in the match when he dismissed Flintoff for a lowly five runs, four down for 74.

An out of sorts Gillespie took his first wicket of the match when he forced Collingwood to play across the line and only managed to find the leading edge, Symonds taking the catch at short extra cover. With five wickets down and only 87 on the board, it was obvious that England would have to drop a bowler and use Solanki as the supersub.

Gillespie then proceeded to add a second wicket to his tally when he had GO Jones caught down at third man, Kasprowicz taking a fine catch. Solanki was introduced with the score on 6 - 93, England requiring a big partnership between Pietersen and Solanki to have any chance of victory.

After a sedate start to the partnership, both batsmen set about the 5th and 6th bowler with relish, Pietersen looking in fine form, keen to press for a place in the squad for the Ashes ahead of Thorpe who was looking on with his Surrey colleagues. Both Pietersen (74) and Solanki(53*) scored half centuries and despite a third wicket to Gillespie, England posted a modest 228 for seven wickets, possibly 40 runs short on a superb batting wicket.

Any chance England had of winning the game evaporated after the 4th over with Gilchrist smashing the two opening bowlers to all parts, 0 for 29. Harmison was taken apart in the next over and with the addition of a further 16 runs came the injury to Pietersen (Groin) who left the field and played no further part in the game.

Gilchrist was like a man possessed, Hayden on the other hand stood and admired the stroke play from the other end. Gough was hit out of the attack after only two overs again, Harmison managed three overs before he was also replaced! The opening partnership of 91 was halted when Gough coming back on for his third over managed to tempt Hayden into edging to Jones behind the wicket.

Ponting looked in fine form following his century at Lord's on Sunday, gone was the in-balance, back came the confidence and assurity that has seen him score 18 ODI centuries. The Australian captain (43) helped the score along to 2 for 185 when he was stumped by Jones off Giles. The spinner had managed to temporarily halt the free flowing run rate earlier, Vaughan opting not to use a second power play after 10 overs.

That was it as far as England were concerned, Martyn and Gilchrist knocked off the required runs in quick fashion, Gilchrist scoring yet another century, his 11th of his career in the process.

Australia had made short work of the total, scoring the 229 required runs in only 35 overs. Gilchrist was named man of the match, an easy decision after his cavalier knock in front of a sun drenched crowd. Player of the series was Ricky Ponting, named by the written media. Match Scorecard

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