White leads the way for tourists

England's losing streak in one-day cricket continued as a Cameron White hundred propelled Australia into a 3-0 NatWest Series lead.

White tackled the sluggish surface at the Rose Bowl expertly to hit 105 in a six-wicket floodlit victory, secured with nine balls to spare.

Ironically, before this third match of seven it was 26-year-old White who appeared most vulnerable when Ricky Ponting returns to action at the weekend.

However, this match-winning contribution among a campaign tally to date of 200 runs should guarantee his retention.

Stand-in skipper Michael Clarke, who will hand over the reins with a flawless record during Ponting's rest period, also struck a half-century as Australia extended their dominance over England to 10 wins in 13 attempts in 50-over cricket.

White did not give a chance until he was on 92 although it was a dolly, dropped by Tim Bresnan at long-on off James Anderson with 46 required from 44 balls.

In truth, however, he should have been run out a couple of times, with James Anderson involved on each occasion.

The first was when White was four short of his second one-day international 50 as Anderson seized on a misjudged single to mid-on and missed with a left-handed shy as he slid to intercept and the second, on 70, when he missed with his first attempt to break the stumps from a poor flicked throw from Andrew Strauss. Australia were 154 for two, with 75 runs required from 11 overs, when they opted for the batting powerplay.

It was a period which began with a huge White six off Ryan Sidebottom, the first by an Australian in the series, and included 41 runs in all.

It was during this time that the 100-run alliance was registered by the third-wicket pair - of which Clarke's share was 40.

Their blend of power and placement, White providing the former, reaped 143 runs in all, with Clarke finally dismissed the very next ball after registering his first boundary.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann claimed the success as Clarke tiredly wiped at a full delivery and was bowled.

White had celebrated his maiden ODI hundred earlier in the over from 116 deliveries.

He eventually succumbed when he mishit to mid-off with just nine needed.

His innings doused English enthusiasm, which had been stoked by a couple of early wickets in defence of their 229-run target.

Two leg-before decisions, for Anderson and Paul Collingwood respectively, inside the first two blocks of powerplay, left Australia 52 for two in the 14th over.

Both were straightforward decisions for the umpires as Shane Watson was beaten for pace by Anderson in the fifth over of the innings and Tim Paine, who struck four boundaries in an inventive 29, was outfoxed by a Collingwood cutter.