Michael Clarke's unbeaten 99 helped Australia win the fourth one-day international by 78 runs at The Oval here yesterday and reduce England's lead to 3-1 in the five-match series.
Michael Clarke's unbeaten 99 helped Australia win the fourth one-day international by 78 runs at The Oval here yesterday and reduce England's lead to 3-1 in the five-match series.
Vice-captain Clarke and captain Ricky Ponting, 92, shared a third wicket stand of 155 as world champions Australia made 290 for five.
England, chasing a ninth straight ODI win, saw swing bowler Ryan Harris take five of their wickets for 32 runs.
The man of the match did the damage in a spell of five for 18 in 23 balls as England's series lead was reduced to 3-1 after they were bowled out for 212 with 44 balls to spare.
Mike Yardy made a career-best 57, his first ODI fifty, but it was too late to make a difference.
"I have a smile on my face at last," said Ponting.
"Our batting today was at the level it needed to be."
Meanwhile, England captain Strauss said of his team: "The batting reverted back to old habits. We lost too many wickets too early."
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