| • Michael Clarke shines as Australia win with four balls to spare • England hampered by injury to Paul Collingwood  |
| Australia's Michael Clarke hits out during the sixth one-day international. |
Sydney:
England's batsman finally got their act together here today, but it was all to no avail as Australia produced their best ever chase to win by two wickets with four balls to spare in a thrilling match.
And the man who led was the captain, Michael Clarke. Booed to the wicket in the previous match at Brisbane, where he responded with 54, he scored 82 on this occasion before falling in the penultimate over.
Asked whether the match was a bittersweet experience for England, Andrew Strauss said afterwards: "Just bitter I think. We had a very good batting performance. Jonathan Trott played outstandingly well and was well supported by a few of the lads. And 333 is a good score on any ground."
However, with Australia needing 16 from the last two overs, Clarke was dropped by man of the match Trott at short-fine leg. But then Trott made up for that mishap by running out Clarke with a fine throw.
With six needed off the last over Chris Woakes started with a wide, and with four needed from five balls, John Hastings edged Woakes to fine leg for the winning runs to put Australia 5-1 up in the series.
England were hampered by not being able to call on Paul Collingwood, who injured his back from the last ball of the innings. "Collingwood had a back spasm and we were not helped by him not being able to bowl," said Strauss. "We let them get off to far too fast a start and they were able to keep up the rate. It was very, very disappointing."
Australia set off at nine an over and, though they could not quite keep that up, they managed 71 by the time Brad Haddin was out to the last ball of the eighth over.
But Australia's chances seemed to be over when Shane Watson, who had led the charge with a 34-ball 51, including eight mostly savage boundaries, was well caught by Andrew Strauss, flying through the air at midwicket.
Callum Ferguson, restored to the team in place of the injured Shaun Marsh, kept up the pressure on the England bowlers and fielders with a brisk 46 before he was run out.
Then Mitchell Johnson, imaginatively promoted in the order, scored a cleanly hit 57 at almost a run-a-ball, including a massive 91-metre six over midwicket off Kevin Pietersen.
When he and Cameron White fell in quick succession the game tilted to England once more. But Clarke tugged back the initative when he pulled Jimmy Anderson for six and drove him for four in an over that cost 17 runs. Anderson went for 91 in ten overs.
England's innings revolved around Trott's highest score in ODI cricket. This was his fifth century against Australia and his fourth this winter, following his two in the Ashes series and his 102 in Adelaide last week.
What was most impressive was his acceleration. As a one-day player he has often been viewed as too slow and one-paced. But after his usual ponderous start he shifted through the gears to finish with a strike rate of 108.73.
He hit 11 fours but no sixes. In fact England's 333 was the biggest ODI total not to include a six. It was also their highest against Australia.
For once England batted well as a team and got some partnerships working as they posted their highest score of the series. Strauss led by example after Matt Prior had been bowled by Johnson off his pads. Strauss, cutting and pulling at his best, hit six fours in a 69-ball 63.
By now, though, Trott was established and he went on to become the pivotal force of the innings while others played small but vital cameos around him.
Pietersen again disappointed, but not before he had scored a reasonably nifty 29 off 34 balls. Ian Bell was more impressive. Having looked out of touch in the previous match he now scored 45 from only 32 balls and lapped boundaries off both John Hastings and Shane Watson as he and Trott put on 104 in 11 overs.
And when Bell was out Eoin Morgan maintained the impetus with an impish 21.
Trott scored his last 87 off 65 deliveries and towards the end he needed the help of a runner as he appeared to go down with cramp. But even though Clarke tried eight bowlers he could not stop the flow of runs. England looked fireproof. But they had reckoned without Clarke.
