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England end nightmare losing run

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SYDNEY, Australia -- Irish-born opener Ed Joyce scored a century as England ended a run of nine straight losses to Australia by beating the world champions by 92 runs in a tri-series one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Joyce, dropped twice, made 107 from 142 balls to help England exceed their previous best total of the one-day series by 66.

Ian Bell hit 51 as England made an imposing total of 292 for seven from their 50 overs.

Liam Plunkett (three for 24) and Sajid Mahmood (two for 38) then gave England a great boost by striking in the first eight balls, to reduce the home side to four for two in their reply.

England's surprise win, which followed five straight defeats in the Ashes test series, losing a one-off Twenty/20 matches, then three one-dayers to Australia, suddenly opens up the prospect of their reaching the finals if they can win the last game against New Zealand next week.

"It's taken a while to come," England captain Andrew Flintoff said at the post-match presentation.

"We had a point to prove. We wanted to beat Australia and if we didn't do it tonight that might have been our last chance."

The 28-year-old Joyce said: "It's unbelievable to score a hundred against Australia in Sydney. Obviously I had a bit of luck along the way but we all we need that."

Stand-in Australia skipper Adam Gilchrist said: "We were out there to play and we were up for it but we just couldn't execute the way we wanted to and sustain any real pressure with the ball.

"Good overs were followed by expensive overs and with the bat we just didn't get the partnerships going."

Gilchrist added. "But it's not all doom and gloom for us....this just highlights that we've still got a lot to work on and improve."

Australia's defeat was their first in any form of the game since the preliminary rounds of last year's Champions Trophy in India, but they only had themselves to blame after a strangely subdued performance.

The loss of captain Ricky Ponting before the toss did not help but they were sloppy in the field, dropping several chances and bowling 19 wides.

Their chances of winning ended when Symonds retired hurt.

Joyce, who was called into the squad when Kevin Pietersen broke a rib earlier in the series, was dropped on six by Shaun Tait and then again by Symonds on 59 and survived to record his first hundred.

The 28-year-old struck 10 boundaries in his 142-ball innings to surpass his previous high score of 66 and lay the foundations for England to rack up their best score of the series.

Joyce shared a 111-run partnership with Bell for the second wicket after the pair came together when opener Mal Loye was dismissed following a nasty knock on the head.

Three stitches

Loye needed three stitches to close a gash in his chin after being hit in the face by paceman Glenn McGrath.

The 34-year-old opener called for medical treatment after ducking into a bouncer and although he decided to continue batting, he was out for 29 from the next delivery he faced.

Bell was also dismissed by McGrath after reaching his fifty off 58 balls, triggering a minor collapse as six wickets went for 105.

Australia made a terrible reply when stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist was bowled first ball by Liam Plunkett, then Brad Hodge dragged a ball onto his stumps for one.

Hayden and Symonds steadied the innings with a 71-run stand for the fourth wicket but their departures signaled the end for the Australians.

It was the fourth-heaviest defeat inflicted by England on Australia in a one-day match.

Marcus Trescothick was the last England batsman to score a one-day century, 15 matches ago, against Sri Lanka at Headingley.

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