Australia pulled off a stunning five-run victory over England in the fifth and final one-day internaitonal at the Adelaide Oval yesterday and claimed a 4-1 series win.
England were bowled out on the fourth delivery of the final over as the hosts fought back from what looked like a losing position for most of the game.
The visitors restricted Australia to 217-9 with a tight bowling display, but ended up all out for 212 in 49.4 overs.
The sides found batting difficult on a day during which the bowlers were well on top on a slow, drop-in pitch.
England were unlucky at the death to lose Ravi Bopara to a ball that bounced off wicket-keeper Matt Wade and just removed the bails as the batsman’s foot lifted off the ground.
The decision was a long time coming, but when Bopara (25) walked off, England were in deep trouble on 209-9.
Tail-ender Chris Jordan could not connect for a boundary and James Tredwell clipped Watson to the keeper with two deliveries remaining.
Nathan Coulter-Nile finished with figures of 3-34 runs from his 10 overs and Clint McKay, who did much of the final damage, took 3-36.
For England, paceman Stuart Broad led the charge, snaring three key wickets for 31 runs off his 10 overs, which included two maidens.
Broad swung the ball both ways in a masterclass display to help compensate for some sloppy early England fielding.
George Bailey top-scored for Australia with 56 off 74 deliveries while Joe Root hit 55 from 86 for England.
Root fell flicking an attempted ramp shot to Xavier Doherty at short fine leg off James Faulkner at a time when England looked set to canter to victory.
Wickets then tumbled rapidly and the home team celebrated Australia Day with a 4-1 series triumph on top of the 5-0 Ashes whitewash.
England wrap up the tour with three T20 matches starting in Hobart on Wednesday, continuing in Melbourne on Friday and Sydney on Sunday.
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