England Punished By Un-Forgiving Aussies

Resuming on 36 for three and needing a further 174 just to make Australia bat again, the tourists had hoped the forecast for storms could salvage an unlikely draw.

The expected heavy rain never materialised, however, as England slumped to 159 all out despite a determined 74-run partnership between Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart.

Tail-ender Richard Dawson also contributed 19 which threatened to at least prevent an innings defeat, but it was not to be.

The tourists suffered an early setback on the fourth day when Robert Key fell to the 10th ball of the day, pulling seamer Andy Bichel tamely to Darren Lehmann at short mid-wicket.

That brought Stewart and Vaughan together as Australia kept their sight on victory before lunch.

Instead, Stewart dominated a 74-run partnership which was only ended when Vaughan fell to a quite brilliant diving catch in the deep from Glenn McGrath after he had slog-swept Shane Warne.

Stewart had the responsibility of guiding England as close as he could to Australia's total, but Vaughan's demise began another slide towards defeat with the tourists losing five wickets for 29 runs.

Once Stewart fell, trapped leg before to Warne for 57, only Dawson's cameo innings could lift English spirits before he became last man out when he edged McGrath behind to Adam Gilchrist to seal the tourists' fate.