Chester-Le-Street, 23rd June - With a man of the match performance from Andrew Symonds and a solid contribution from the fiery Brett Lee, Australia eased to a 57 run victory over England in the One Day International at Chester-Le-Street. Needing 267 runs for victory, England fell well short of the target following an explosive opening eight overs from Lee and McGrath, which saw three wickets fall for only six runs. The home side never recovered.

Winning the toss and putting Australia in to bat at Chester-Le-Street, Trescothick and his boys did well in the final 20 overs to limit the visitors to just 5 for 266, 20 runs short of what should have been a more likely target after 40 overs. Match Scorecard

It was a mature innings from Australia today, only briefly stepping outside the box late in the innings to put England on the back foot. Pushing singles and running quick two's was the order of the day following a brief cameo from Adam Gilchrist before he was caught behind for 18. With the score on 1 for 44, Australia started to rebuild with Ponting and Hayden playing cautiously. Despite being hit around the park in his first couple of overs, Tremlett changed his angle of attack preferring to go around the wicket. It paid off when Jones managed to hold onto Gilchrist's nick at the second attempt.

Ponting and Hayden had taken the score to 95 before the captain was caught by a diving Giles off Harmison's bowling for a sound 27. With Hayden following one run later, England could smell another successful day in the field. Hayden had crafted 39 runs before he played forward to Flintoff and caught the outside edge, Jones once again taking the ball at his second attempt. With two new batsmen at the crease (Martyn and Symonds), the Australian balcony had a look of desperation about them.

Hogg pitched in with 2 vital wickets

They needn't have worried though as both players settled into a steady rhythm as both players scored half centuries with ease. Martyn's 68 not out was his 30th 50 in one day cricket for Australia and Symonds' 73 took his total to 14 one day 50's. Symonds opened his shoulders later in the innings scoring two massive sixes, the only two of the innings. With the partnership reaching 142 Symonds hit a ferocious shot to deep wide mid on and set out for a quick single that was never there. Trescothick did the rest and picking the ball up and throwing in the same action hit the stumps with Symonds out of the frame. the run out certainly saved England a further 10 runs, maybe more as Symonds on return from his two match suspension was starting to motor.

Hussey following two highly competent innings against Bangladesh and England last week didn't have much time to settle with only four overs remaining. He fell to an easy catch in the deep by Collingwood for 5 giving Flintoff his second wicket of the match. Watson and Martyn guided Australia through to the close with a 19 run partnership. Australia will be happy with 266 but not as happy as they should be following tight English bowling especially Darren Gough who went for 41 runs in his 10 overs.

England were captained by Marcus Trescothick, with Michael Vaughan missing through what was described as a minor groin injury, Gough also returning following a rest from the Bangladesh match, Jon Lewis dropped.

In reply, England collapsed to fast swing bowling from Brett Lee and the usual metronomic accuracy of McGrath. Lee looked like a man possessed today, keen to prove a point and help Australia to their first Nat West win.

Trescothick, Strauss and Collingwood were all dismissed with the score reaching a lowly six runs. Both Strauss and Collingwood played on to decent length balls, Trescothick was caught behind by an away swinger from McGrath.

Andrew Flintoff (44) and Vikram Solanki (34) then rebuilt the innings with a patient partnership, both keen to play their shots but weary of not loosing any more wickets without challenging the Aussie total.

Ponting called on wrist spinner Hogg and within a space of 11 runs had sent both Solanki and Flintoff back to the dressing room, England were at this point 5 for 84 and out of contention.

Pietersen failed to help England this time, the newcomer falling to recalled Symonds for only 19 runs, a failure at last for the enigmatic middle order batsman. Gough hit the ball to all parts with a wide array of attacking shots and although he top scored with 46 not out it wasn't enough. He and Harmison created a new record partnership for the 10th wicket beating the previous best of Fraser and Tufnell in 1991. The new partnership was worth 50 runs at a run rate of 5.45.

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