Cricket:Paul Collingwood's defiant 95 was in vain as England foundered against Shaun Tait's pace to end their NatWest Series campaign on a Lord's low with a 42-run defeat against Australia.
Tait, with four for 48, cranked the speed gun up to approaching 100mph to blast out captain Andrew Strauss and promoted number three Mike Yardy and in pursuit of 277 for seven, the shell-shocked hosts were never able to retrieve a competitive position.
Collingwood’s manful best — seven fours and two sixes from 121 balls — helped to prevent embarrassment but England have now been well beaten in successive matches by the world’s number one team to end up shading the overall honours only 3-2.
Save for during Collingwood’s half-century stands with Luke Wright and Tim Bresnan, there was little for home supporters to cheer once Mike Hussey (79) and Shaun Marsh (59) joined forces to rescue Australia from a vulnerable 30-over total of 107 for four.
Tait blasted out Strauss and Yardy in the space of four balls — before Craig Kieswetter fell to Ryan Harris, Eoin Morgan to the first of two good catches by Marsh in the leg-side deep and Kevin Pietersen’s slump continued.
There was some consolation for Dubliner Morgan, who was named man of the series for his impressive batting in the early games, including a century in the opening clash at the Rose Bowl.