Ricky Ponting guided Australia to an eight-wicket win in the opening tri-series limited-overs international against England on Friday, extending his side's unbeaten stretch against the tourists in all versions of cricket this summer.
Ponting scored 82 from 96 balls as Australia reached 246 for two, surpassing England's 242 for eight with more than six overs to spare.
He shared a 133-run partnership with Michael Clarke, who was unbeaten on 57 when Australia surpassed England's total.
Kevin Pietersen top scored for England with 82 from 91 balls, but was ruled out for the remainder of the series after being struck in the ribs advancing down the pitch at a Glenn McGrath short ball. It was a major blow for England's series and World Cup ambitions.
The Australian chase started quickly, with Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden putting on 101 for the first wicket before Gilchrist was out for 60 from 61 balls, including five boundaries and a six.
Hayden played the anchor role in the opening stand and was out for 28 with the total at 118.
Pietersen clubbed three sixes and four boundaries in his knock, holding the England innings together in the middle overs before Andrew Flintoff took over, hitting an unbeaten 47 from 38 balls at the end.
Pietersen was hit in the ribs by a rising short ball after a big swing-and-a-miss late in his innings on 73 and needed treatment on the field. He was later taken to hospital for tests and did not field.
England management revealed he would be sent home after breaking a rib on his right side. A replacement has not been named.
Skipper Michael Vaughan, who missed the 5-0 Ashes loss to Australia, won the toss and elected to bat, but the move backfired early on.
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