England Hammered Once More

Coming in as a late replacement after Mark Waugh withdrew with a groin strain, Slater smashed a superb 115 off 136 balls, including a six and 13 fours.

The state side won with eight overs to spare after England could post only a disappointing 206, who were thankful for Ronnie Irani's 81.

Slater was out just 25 runs from victory, clipping Andrew Flintoff to Marcus Trescothick at short mid-wicket.

But that just enabled Michael Bevan, who coasted to 54 not out, to guide NSW home with Steve Waugh hitting three sixes in one Irani over to complete the emphatic triumph.

Once again England captain Nasser Hussain won the toss and decided to bat first, but the innings got off to a dreadful start as both Trescothick and Nick Knight fell cheaply to new-ball pair Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.

Irani stabilised the innings with his 120-ball innings which featured 11 boundaries. He shared in crucial partnerships of 79 with Hussain and 49 with Owais Shah.

But England were undone by the occasional left-arm leg-spin of Simon Katich, who claimed three wickets to remove Hussain, bowled attempting to steer the ball down to third man, while Flintoff and Shah both fell to return catches.

But it was the fall of Irani which really began England's demise when he was caught in the deep by Slater, making amends for dropping him on 68 on the mid-wicket boundary, by taking a similar catch in the same position off Lee.

After that England's resistance crumbled with Alec Stewart falling in the next over in the chase for quick runs, caught by Brad Haddin off Nathan Bracken after he raced back towards fine leg.

Both Jeremy Snape and Andrew Caddick fell in successive balls to Stuart MacGill and the innings was completed when Steve Harmison was bowled comprehensively by Bracken to leave the strong NSW batting line-up a relatively simple task in reply.