Seventh ODI: As it happened

Eurosport - Sun, 20 Sep 18:47:00 2009

Relive all the action from the seventh one-day international between England and Australia at the Riverside with the hosts avoiding a series whitewash.

CRICKET Andrew Strauss England One-day international - 0

41 ENGLAND WIN BY FOUR WICKETS! England 177-6 (Hilfenhaus nb): Fittingly, another no-ball from Hilfenhaus, who has had a torrid day, gives England victory by four wickets at the Riverside! It is all smiles and handshakes as the players leave the pitch, but there is no doubt who remains the happier side with Australia having won this series 6-1! For England, it is just sheer relief! Thanks for joining us.

40 England 176-6 (Lee 1-0-0-wd-0-0-0): Brett Lee attempts to find yorkers with the first three deliveries of his over as Bresnan jabs his bat down to dig the ball out to safety. The scores are tied as Lee delivers a vicious bouncer behind Bresnan, and that was down the leg side so a fair call. With England requiring just one run to win, Lee bowls three dot balls to end the over superbly.

39 England 174-6 (Hilfenhaus 1-0-0-0-4-0): England move to within three runs of victory as Bresnan slices a wide ball past cover for four, and that is just the kind of fortunate boundary that he needs at this stage. Collingwood gets a single for an edge to third man. /// Feedthephil thinks that there is a distinct difference between batsmen from southern counties, from those of the north - do others agree with him on that?

38 England 169-6 (Lee 1-4-0-0-2-0): Bresnan pulls a short delivery from Lee wide of mid-on for four, pouncing on a short-length ball to edge England closer. Bresnan takes another two runs with a clip through the leg side and England are now just eight runs away from clinching their first win in this seven-match series!

37 England 162-6 (Hilfenhaus 0-W-0-0-0-0): WICKET! PRIOR GIVES HIS WICKET AWAY! A typically sloppy dismissal from the England wicket-keeper gives Australia their sixth wicket with a very loose, airy drive off Hilfenhaus with Ponting taking a sharp catch at short cover! Bresnan joins Collingwood and England require 15 runs from 13 overs now with four wickets in hand.

36 England 162-5 (Lee 0-0-1-0-1-4): Collingwood and Prior exchange singles before Lee errs in his line and the Durham batsman flicks the paceman through midwicket for another valuable boundary to end the over with a flourish. /// Whiteroseyorks also insists that Shah and Prior should be dropped after this series - that seems to be the consensus right now.

35 England 156-5 (Watson 0-0-0-1-0-2): Watson bowls a heavy ball from tight in to the stumps, and Asad Rauf changes the ball. Three runs come off the over as Prior glances a leg-side delivery down to fine leg for two runs to end it with England just 21 runs shy of their target now! /// Nicholas is putting his money on a tie - now that will get you very good odds I am sure!

34 England 153-5 (Lee 0-0-0-4-0-4): Brett Lee continues, and Matt Prior bides his time sensibly with three careful pushes back to the bowler before an extravagant pull shot over midwicket for four! A second boundary follows as Prior bisects the fielders at point and cover with a precise drive! /// As you say Aitch, Lee can be very potent but also leak runs.

33 England 145-5 (Watson 0-0-0-4-0-0): Paul Collingwood is gifted four runs as Watson strays on to his pads and is punished with a clip through midwicket. Those are hugely valuable runs for England who are staggering closer to the finish line - 32 runs to go! /// Ian Mack recommends the dole queue for Shah and Bopara, while Aitch advises a trip to Alaska or Siberia for the pair - now this is productive chat!

32 England 141-5 (Lee 0-0-0-W-0-0): WICKET! MORGAN EDGES BEHIND AND THE COLLAPSE CONTINUES! Brett Lee strikes with the fourth ball of his return as Morgan plays a lavish cut shot to a delivery which was not there to be hit - fuller and much quicker than he anticipated. Never a man to calm the nerves - in comes Matt Prior! England still need 36 more to win and Lee is up at 93mph.

31 England 141-4 (Watson 0-0-0-0-1-0): Watson continues to bowl his very slow-medium pace with Eoin Morgan at the crease now alongside Collingwood. Morgan edges behind but the ball drops just short of Paine with Watson keeping a very tight line. Brett Lee will now return. /// Aitch senses that a further collapse may be imminent - England are making very hard work of this but need Colly to play a solid knock now to see this out.

30 England 140-4 (Hopes 4-W-1-2lb-0-0): WICKET! SHAH DEPARTS - THREE WICKETS IN THREE OVERS! Shah bludgeons a straight delivery over Hopes's head for a superb one-bounce four, but he gets a tame edge through to Paine the next ball! England have imploded in the last three overs and it is the usual suspects unfortunately. Do you think either of Bopara or Shah should make the trip to the Champions Trophy? /// Bobito thinks both should be dropped permanently - do you agree?

29 England 133-3 (Watson 1-1-0-0-0-W): WICKET! BOPARA'S MISERABLE SERIES COMES TO AN END! The number three plays all around a straight delivery from Watson and he is trapped plumb in front of his stumps! Just two singles come off the over as Watson bowls a stifling line to the two right-handers and that brings Paul Collingwood to the crease.

28 England 131-2 (Hopes W-0-0-0-2-0): WICKET! DENLY IS RUN OUT! Bopara calls for a quick single and Denly is caught ball-watching with both probably at fault, and that is a real shame for the Kent batsman who was well set on 53. Owais Shah comes to the crease now, just the man you want after a run-out!

27 England 129-1 (Watson 1-0-0-0-1-0): Shane Watson comes into the attack to bowl his medium pace and just two runs are taken off the over with Denly and Bopara nurdling the ball into the numerous gaps in the field.

26 England 127-1 (Hopes 1-1-4-1-0-0): DENLY REACHES HIS HALF-CENTURY! The opening batsman has played with real confidence and assurance in this innings and he reaches the landmark with a streaky outside edge which races away for four! Three singles are added in a good over for England.

25 England 120-1 (Hauritz 0-1-0-1-0-4): Hauritz is worked around the outfield for two singles by Bopara and Denly before Bopara crashes a half-volley away for four through extra-cover!

24 England 114-1 (Hopes 0-0-0-0-0-0): Hopes rattles through his over with a minimum of fuss and Australia are looking pretty casual in the field now. /// Aitch wonders if England may have finally turned a corner with South Africa looming - Denly is certainly a plus in this form and Sidebottom is nothing on Onions in my view. What do you all think?

23 England 114-1 (Hauritz 0-1-0-1-1-0): Hauritz concedes three singles with his off spin as he completes his seventh over with his figures: one wicket for 24 runs. Denly and Bopara are content to play the ball around patiently now with the required rate just 2.37 per over.

22 England 111-1 (Hopes 0-0-0-1-0-4): Hopes continues with his medium pace, and after Denly takes a single to midwicket, Bopara plays a delightful pull shot away for four! That was a lovely shot which was all timing from England's number three.

21 England 106-1 (Hauritz 1-1-0-W-0-0): WICKET! STRAUSS FALLS TO HAURITZ YET AGAIN! The off spinner gets the England captain every time, and it is the sweep shot which does for him once more! Strauss will be disappointed not to have reached his 50 there when well set again, but he falls for 47.

20 England 104-0 (Hopes 0-1-1-4-0-4): Hopes is attacked to good effect by Denly, who seizes on a short ball with a delightful pull shot for four to bring up the England 100, before an elegantly steered shot behind point gives him a second boundary.

19 England 94-0 (Hauritz 2nb-0-0-1-0-1-1): Five runs are taken off Hauritz's fifth over with the spinner beginning with two no-balls beofre Denly and and Strauss exchange singles. James Hopes comes into the attack now.

18 England 89-0 (Johnson 0-1-1-1-1-0): Johnson bowls outside Denly's off stump but the Kent batsman takes two singles with precise dabs to the right of point. Strauss also keeps the scoreboard ticking along, and England look to be coasting now.

17 England 85-0 (Hauritz 0-1-1-0-2-0): Hauritz bowls full outside Strauss's off stump from around the wicket and the England captain runs very well to pick up two runs at the end of the over. Four runs come of it in all as Ponting allows numerous singles with his field setting in the leg side. The required rate now is just 2.78 runs per over.

16 England 81-0 (Johnson 0-1-1-0-1-0): Johnson bowls full and straight but Strauss and Denly play the line of the ball well, with two singles being driven straight down the ground. A third follows as Strauss works a leg-side delivery off his pads.

15 England 78-0 (Hauritz 0-0-2-1-1-1): Strauss picks up two runs for a cut shot behind point as Hauritz comes around the wicket to him, drifting the ball into his pads and turning the ball away. Denly dances down the track but miscues his lofted drive and picks up a single out to midwicket. England look comfortable, dare we say it?

14 England 73-0 (Johnson 0-4-0-wd-4-wd-1-4): Johnson bowls two bouncers to Strauss and is wided for the second, which swings out before Paine takes it in front of slip. Strauss crashes a cut shot through point for four in emphatic fashion before the England captain guides a leg-side delivery down past fine leg for a second boundary! A second wide follows before Denly hammers a cut shot through point for four as 15 runs come off the over!

13 England 58-0 (Hauritz 0-0-0-1-1-1): Hauritz floats the ball up to Strauss and Denly, with three singles coming at the end of the over. Hauritz is bowling well but he is not managing to cause too many problems as yet, with England still having kept all their wickets in tact.

12 England 55-0 (Johnson 0-0-0-2-0-4): The England 50 is brought up by Denly, who drives and gets a thick outside edge for two, just wide of third man. The Kent batsman then plays a delightful leg glance, timing the ball impeccably to get four runs behind square leg as Johnson strays in his line.

11 England 49-0 (Hauritz 0-0-0-0-2-0): Hauritz concedes two runs as Strauss sweeps hard behind square, wide of fine leg. Cameron White at slip goes up with Hauritz in a vociferous fashion to appeal for lbw and/or a catch with Strauss stuck on the crease, but Asad Rauf turns both down!

10 England 47-0 (Johnson 0-0-0-0-0-1): Johnson concedes just one run from his first over with Strauss opening the face of his bat and pushing the ball down past point for a single. The second powerplay is taken by Australia as Nathan Hauritz comes on to replace Lee, with Strauss having struggled to face the spinner in the series up to this point. /// Aitch hopes that pride can be salvaged today after the fine effort from the England bowlers. It is all going the hosts' way thus far!

9 England 46-0 (Lee 1-0-0-0-0-0): Brett Lee is up around 91-92mph now as he bowls another probing over which yields just one run for England. Andrew Strauss nurdles the ball into the leg side for a single to begin the over but Denly is forced to play out the remainder of it. Mitchell Johnson will replace Hilfenhaus now.

8 England 45-0 (Hilfenhaus 1-4-1-0-0-4): Why is Hilfenhaus still bowling? Bemusing! The seamer is clattered away for four by Strauss as he errs on to the opener's legs, and Denly cashes in with a second boundary to end the over, driving expansively past mid-on! Surely Ponting will not keep him on any longer?

7 England 35-0 (Lee 0-0-0-0-0-0): The contrast between Lee and Hilfenhaus is stark as the paceman rattles through a testing a consistent maiden which Strauss plays with all due respect. Can Hilfenhaus raise his game now?

6 England 35-0 (Hilfenhaus 0-0-0-5nb-4-nb-nb-0-0): Hilfenhaus continues to have a mare with Denly hammering a four through the covers before a second boundary is dispatched wide of mid-on! A terrible beamer follows from which Denly takes evasive action and that was a dismal over from the seamer.

5 England 24-0 (Lee 0-0-1-0-wd-0-2): Lee comes around the wicket to Strauss to vary the angle as four runs are mustered from the paceman's third over. Strauss looks in very good nick again today and gets two runs for a drive through the covers.

4 England 20-0 (Hilfenhaus 0-0-3-2nb-4-0-0): Hilfenhaus continues to struggle with his run-up and he concedes another no-ball as Strauss is afforded the luxury of a freehit. The England captain takes full advantage with a shuffle across his stumps and a scoop past fine leg for four!

3 England 11-0 (Lee 0-0-0-0-0-0): Lee continues and his second over is considerably better than the first: a maiden. Denly plays it out with circumspection, and England are already above the required rate at 3.74 runs per over, and most have come through extras!

2 England 11-0 (Hilfenhaus nb-0-0-wd-0-0-0-0): Ben Hilfenhaus oversteps the mark and concedes a free hit, but Strauss can do nothing with the resulting delivery outside his off stump. Hilfenhaus bowls a very good line when he is not conceding extras, and no runs come off the bat.

1 England 9-0 (Lee wd-0-0-nb-4b-3-0-0): Brett Lee bowls the opening over for Australia and it is a real mixed bag of erratic extras and testing dot balls. A wide and a no-ball are followed by four byes as Tim Paine cannot prevent a sharp delivery from running away to the boundary. Strauss gets off the mark with a cut between gully and point for three runs. Ben Hilfenhaus will open from the other end.

13:25 Can England seal victory by knocking off 177? The pressure will be on the batsmen to avoid a series whitewash - what would be the first ever in a seven-match series! Do you back England to hold their composure?

46 AUSTRALIA 176 ALL OUT! (Bresnan 0-0-0-1-W): WICKET! BRESNAN DISMISSES HUSSEY! Tim Bresnan returns, no doubt eyeing Hilfenhaus's wicket, but the tail-ender thumps the ball out to mid-on for a single to bring Hussey on strike with 49 to his name. Mr Cricket holes out to Denly at mid-on with an lofted on-drive and England have bowled the tourists out for 176 - can they capitalise to claim their first victory?

45 Australia 175-9 (Anderson 1-0-0-1-4-6): Australia belatedly take their batting powerplay, and that prompts Strauss to hand Anderson the ball in direct response. Hussey shows confidence in Hilfenhaus in taking a single off the first delivery of Anderson's over, and a single gives Mr Cricket the opportunity to hammer six off two balls! A flick through square leg for four is followed by a huge swipe over midwicket for six!

44 Australia 163-9 (Shah W-0-0-0-0-0): WICKET! SHAH STRIKES TO DISMISS HAURITZ! Shah tosses the ball right up to his fellow spinner, who chips the ball back to him tamely and he takes a simple return catch to dismiss the batsman for three! Australia are collapsing here and are now in danger of being bowled out before the batting powerplay is taken! Ben Hilfenhaus comes in for the final wicket.

43 Australia 163-8 (Swann 0-1-0-0-0-0): Swann comes around the wicket to Hussey, drifting the ball into his pads to concede just a single off his final over. The spinner ends with superb figures of five for 28 off his 10 overs, and he has helped England to establish a strong position in this match.

42 Australia 162-8 (Shah 1-1-1-0-1-0): Shah is milked for singles as the spinner pitches the ball right up to Hauritz and Hussey, who play the ball out to long-on and long-off at will. Can Swann take any more wickets in his final over?

41 Australia 158-8 (Swann 5-0-4-W-0-W): TWO WICKETS FALL! JOHNSON FALLS BEFORE LEE FOLLOWS! The off spinner gets his fourth wicket after nine runs are plundered off his first three deliveries in the over as Johnson skies the ball to Anderson with a leading edge. Lee lasts two deliveries before he is clean bowled by Swann, who dances in celebration as he clinches his five-for! Earlier in the over Hussey deflects a throw down to the long-off boundary for five runs!

40' Australia 149-6 (Shah 1-0-0-1-3-0): Shah continues to impress with five runs coming off the over as Johnson and Hussey treat him with respect. Hussey plays a reverse-paddle for three runs past point as Shah over-pitches slightly, and that was a superb shot.

39 Australia 144-6 (Swann 0-0-0-1-0-0): Swann beats Hussey with an exquisite delivery which turns from middle stump past the off with Prior whipping off the bails. An appeal for a stumping goes up, but Mr Cricket was comfortably back in his crease. Another fine over comes to an end.

38 Australia 143-6 (Shah 1-1-0-0-0-0): Shah concedes just two runs from his second over, tossing the ball up to Johnson and inviting the left-hander to have a biff. Johnson keeps his composure and sees out the over with circumspection - good stuff from Shah.

37 Australia 141-6 (Swann 0-0-W-0-3-0): WICKET! HOPES IS CAUGHT AND BOWLED BY SWANN! The off spinner continues his very impressive spell with a floated delivery which Hopes attempts to drive but gets a leading edge to allow the bowler to take a comfortable return catch! In comes the dangerous Mitchell Johnson, and he gets off the mark with a nicely-timed three runs wide of mid-on.

36 Australia 138-5 (Shah 2-0-0-1-1-0): Shah begins with a decent over as Hussey and Hopes rotate the strike to the effect of four runs. The part-time spinner floats the ball up to Hussey who pushes the ball down to Onions at long-on for two runs before two singles are taken.

35 Australia 134-5 (Swann 0-0-0-1-2-0): Swann resumes after the drinks break with three dot balls to Hussey before Hopes drills a straight drive to long on for two runs. Swann is keeping a lid on Australia's attacking intent very well indeed. Owais Shah comes on at the other end.

34 Australia 131-5 (Bopara 1-4-0-0-0-2): Ravi Bopara comes into the attack for England and Hopes slams his second delivery for four just wide of point. That was short and wide but Hopes did well to get into position and dispatch it through the covers. Bopara recovers well to end the over, and that is the drinks break.

33 Australia 124-5 (Swann 0-0-1-1-1-0): Swann completes his fifth over, with just 10 runs coming off the spinner in his entire spell - cracking stuff! Three singles come off the over as Hussey looks to keep the scoreboard ticking along nicely and Australia's run rate moves up to 3.75.

32 Australia 121-5 (Onions 4-0-0-0-1-0): Hussey rocks back and pulls Onions through square leg for four with real power as the Durham paceman errs slightly in his length. Onions finishes off the over very impressively, and the seamer has an economy of just over three runs per over!

31 Australia 116-5 (Swann 1-0-1-1-0-0): Swann flights the ball right up to Hussey and Hopes, who exchange quick singles with pushes into the leg side as three runs come off the over. Swann is bowling with real confidence and swagger now.

30 Australia 113-5 (Onions 1-0-0-0-0-0): Graham Onions returns and he produces a very fine over in which just one run is mustered from it by Mike Hussey and James Hopes. Mr Cricket cuts the ball down to deep cover for a single and Onions has found his line again straight away.

29 Australia 112-5 (Swann 1-0-0-1-W-0): WICKET! SWANN BOWLS WHITE! Swann is finding a superb rhythm out there and after having a huge appeal for lbw turned down by Asad Rauf, he clean bowls Cameron White for one. The delivery which does the damage drifts and turns to remove the batsman's off stump, and the spinner is bowling beautifully today! England are looking very good so far, dare it be said!

28 Australia 110-4 (Collingwood 0-0-1-1-1-W): WICKET! CLARKE IS RUN OUT! Three singles come off Colly's over before Clarke gets impatient and takes a single to short fine leg, with Morgan swiftly in to hurl down the stumps with a direct hit - Clarke falls for 38!

27 Australia 107-3 (Swann 0-0-0-1-1-0): Swann has a stifled appeal for leg-before with Clarke being pushed back on the crease, but it was always outside the line of off stump. Just two runs come off the over, and Swann continues his fine start. /// David E thinks it is 'probable' that England will lose 7-0 in the series - what do you think? The hosts are bowling well today.

26 Australia 105-3 (Collingwood 1-2-0-0-2-4): Collingwood concedes nine runs as Hussey plunders eight off him through midwicket. Two twos into the leg side are followed by a handsome pull shot from Mr Cricket which splits the field on the leg side. The 100 is up for Australia in the 26th over.

25 Australia 96-3 (Swann 0-0-0-0-W-0): WICKET! PONTING PERISHES TO SWANN! Strauss introduces the off spinner to the attack and he begins with four beautifully-flighted dot balls which Ponting cannot attack. The Australia captain then miscues a drive and is caught by Collingwood at short midwicket. Ponting falls for a splendid 53 - what a great start from Swann.

24 Australia 96-2 (Collingwood 0-1-1-0-1-2): Collingwood rattles through his fifth over at lightning speed, with five runs coming off it. Clarke plays a swipe over midwicket for two runs to end the over with three singles preceding it.

23 Australia 91-2 (Bresnan 2-0-0-2-0-0): Bresnan does well to notice Clarke dancing down the track and he digs in a short delivery which the batsman has to push out to midwicket for two runs. Clarke then attempts a huge slog over Cow Corner, but he misses the ball comprehensively. Four runs come off Bresnan's sixth over. /// Andrew G asks how a captain can win all but one toss and lose all six matches - it is baffling I agree!

22' Australia 87-2 (Collingwood 1-4-1-4-1-1): A very authoritative shot from Clarke eases the pressure slightly, driving straight over Collingwood's head expansively for four! A sumptuous pull shot from Ponting then brings up his half-century, and the Australia captain has again looked in sublime touch. A great over for the tourists.

21 Australia 75-2 (Bresnan 0-0-0-0-1-1): Collingwood makes a fine stop at backward point as Ponting thumps a back-foot drive to his left. Clarke takes a single to mid-on as Shah mis-fields but it is another pretty tepid over from Australia's perspective. Bresnan continues to bowl in a very controlled manner.

20' Australia 73-2 (Collingwood 1-0-2-1-0-1): Clarke tucks a single into the leg side to end the 20th over as five runs come off the bat. Collingwood continues to bowl the same, but perhaps Australia are sensing that they need to attack the seam-wobbler now with Ponting clearing mid-on with an ambitious drive for two.

19 Australia 68-2 (Bresnan 1-0-0-1-0-0): Bresnan continues to bowl a heavy ball on a good length and two singles come off the over - good stuff from the Yorkshireman. Clarke really needs to get going here as his strike rate is dipping below 35! Do you think Bresnan is an under-rated asset for England with his bowling?

18 Australia 66-2 (Collingwood 0-0-1-1-0-0): Just two singles come off Collingwood's second over and the all-rounder has started his spell very efficiently with Australia's third-wicket partnership moving to 49 runs off 86 balls. Ponting looks by far the more fluent but Clarke is hanging in there well.

17 Australia 64-2 (Bresnan 0-wd-0-1-1-2-1): A delightful flick off his pads by Ponting gives him a single to follow Clarke after Prior does superbly to save four byes with a dive as Bresnan delivers a wide. Strauss attempts a run-out on Ponting but the Australia captain scrambles into his ground comfortably. Australia are consolidating well with this partnership.

16 Australia 58-2 (Collingwood 0-0-1-0-0-0): Collingwood begins with a very economical over as Clarke takes a solitary single - the Chester-le-Street crowd love that performance from their man! The weather toady at the Riverside is absolutely glorious, and the sun is bathing the ground - whoever doubted that this would be the case?

15 Australia 57-2 (Bresnan 0-0-1-0-4-0): Ponting shuffles across his crease to Bresnan and flicks a delightful shot off his hips for four down to the fine-leg boundary after Clarke gives him the strike with a quick single. Ponting has looked very fluent. On comes Paul Collingwood!

14 Australia 52-2 (Onions 0-0-4-0-1-0): Clarke steps back and punches the ball firmly through point and extra cover for four as Onions slightly over pitches - that was as classical drive as you could wish to see! A single for Clarke consolidates his first boundary as he moves to 11 off 37 balls.

13 Australia 47-2 (Bresnan 1-0-0-0-4-0): Tim Bresnan comes on to bowl his hit-the-deck seam and he begins with one slip in place. An appeal for a run-out is rejected as Clarke scampers through before Ponting punishes a half-volley, driving straight down the ground for four!

12 Australia 42-2 (Onions 1-1-wd-1-0-1-0): Clarke has really taken his time to settle in here, with three runs off 24 balls! Clarke and Ponting rotate the strike with a wide being signalled by Asad Rauf for an overly aggressive bouncer which rears up above Ponting's head.

11 Australia 37-2 (Anderson 0-0-4-1-0-0): Anderson is cut away viciously by Ponting for four after dropping short and Bresnan shows all the mobility of a vintage Sunseeker in attempting to cut the ball off at the boundary. A single follows and Ponting moves swiftly on to 29 off 34 balls.

10 Australia 32-2 (Onions 1-1-0-0-0-0): Onions continues to frustrate Clarke, who is finding it very difficult to get the ball away through the off side. The first powerplay is used very well by England, and the second is taken without hesitation as Strauss continues to go on the attack with Onions and Anderson.

9 Australia 30-2 (Anderson 4-0-0-0-0-0): Ponting times a push behind point impeccably and it beats third man to the ropes - a lovely shot. Another vociferous appeal goes up as Ponting pushes forward and but he did not get an inside edge with the ball striking his pad - a very good decision by Asad Rauf once more.

8 Australia 26-2 (Onions 0-1-0-0-wd-0-0): Onions is finding a very good line outside the off stump and Strauss clearly has faith in his consistency with a very attacking field. Ponting gets to the non-striker's end with a push into the covers before a wide is given for a bouncer which infuriates Onions.

7 Australia 24-2 (Anderson 1-0-2-0-0-0): Another huge appeal goes up as Clarke prods forward tentatively to a fine delivery from Anderson outside off stump, but umpire Asad Rauf shakes his head - it looks a good decision. Anderson continues to look very threatening and Clarke does not appear comfortable early in this innings.

6 Australia 21-2 (Onions 0-0-0-0-0-0): The question which is inevitably being asked now is: 'Where has Onions been when England so desperately needed a consistent, probing seam bowler during this series?' The answer is, carrying the drinks. The Durham man has two slips and a gully as he rattles through an immaculate maiden to Clarke.

5 Australia 21-2 (Anderson 0-4-0-0-0-0): Anderson is whipped away again for four by Ponting, who punishes anything on his pads past square leg. A huge appeal goes up for LBW as Ponting is rapped on the pads going back in his crease but it was too high.

4 Australia 17-2 (Onions 0-4-wd-0-W-0-0): WICKET! PAINE IS CAUGHT BEHIND! The opener, who was the centurion in the sixth ODI, edges behind in regulation fashion to Matt Prior with Onions getting a full delivery to nip away off the seam - great bowling from the Durham man! Earlier in the over Paine drove expansively through the covers for four, but his dismissal brings Michael Clarke to the crease.

3 Australia 12-1 (Anderson 0-0-0-4-4-0): Ponting pushes forward and drives off the front foot through point for four as Anderson strives for another wicket. A second boundary comes as the Australia captain whips a leg-side delivery off his pads past fine leg for four - a good over for the tourists.

2 Australia 4-1 (Onions 0-0-0-0-3-0): Graham Onions, making his one-day international debut today on his home ground at the Riverside, bowls a tidy opening over to start. Ponting punches a full delivery through extra cover for three runs to get the scoreboard moving.

1 Australia 1-1 (Anderson 0-0-W-0-0-1): WATSON FALLS FOR A DUCK! The opener pushes forward at a full delivery from Anderson which nip away and catches his outside edge! The perfect start for England, and that brings the very much in-form Australia captain Ricky Ponting to the crease. Ponting nurdles a single into the leg side for a single to end a fine over from Jimmy.

10:15 The players are out and James Anderson will bowl the opening over to Shane Watson.

- No international side has ever been whitewashed in a seven-match one-day series, and Australia all-rounder James Hopes admits the chance to become the first team to inflict such a drubbing provides great motivation.

10:10 England all-rounder Paul Collingwood has revealed his body felt like it was "slowly shutting down" before sitting out the past three one-day internationals against Australia. But the nuggety batsman is back today - what do you think of England's selection today?

- England: AJ Strauss (CAPT), JL Denly, RS Bopara, MJ Prior (WK), OA Shah, PD Collingwood, EJG Morgan, TT Bresnan, GP Swann, JM Anderson, G Onions

- Australia: SR Watson, TD Paine (WK), RT Ponting (CAPT), MEK Hussey, MJ Clarke, CL White, JR Hopes, NM Hauritz, B Lee, BW Hilfenhaus, MG Johnson

10:05 England have won the toss and Andrew Strauss elects to field first - now those of you who have stuck with this gruelling series will know that is quite a rarity (not England winning the toss, but fielding first).

10:00 The seventh one-day international between England and Australia at Chester-le-Street sees the tourists on the verge of creating history, seeking a series whitewash. England, meanwhile, are looking to avoid their worst limited-overs humiliation.

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