Five-star Aussie Lee overpowers England

By Julian Guyer (AFP)

LONDON — Brett Lee routed England as Australia won the fourth one-day international at Lord's on Saturday by a crushing seven wickets to take an unbeatable 4-0 lead in the seven-match series.

Lee took five wickets for 49 runs in nine overs of hostile fast bowling as England were dismissed for a meagre 220 with 21 balls of their innings left.

World champions Australia then made 221 for three, reaching their victory target with more than six overs remaining.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting, in his first match since his post-Ashes break, made 48 before holing out off Tim Bresnan.

But it was Ponting's heir apparent, Michael Clarke, who saw Australia home with 62 not out after opener Tim Paine made 51.

Earlier, Lee produced a trio of 93mph-plus yorkers to clean bowl Matt Prior, Luke Wright and Stuart Broad, having previously dismissed Joe Denly.

He completed his five-wicket haul by uprooting Adil Rashid's stumps.

It was the ninth time the 32-year-old quick, out with a side injury at the start of the Ashes and unable to get back in during the remainder of England's 2-1 triumph, had taken five wickets in an innings in 179 ODIs.

It was the second time Lee had taken five wickets in an ODI at 'the home of cricket' and afterwards he told reporters: "Taking 'five for' at Lord's, it doesn't get much better than that."

Lee, who before the Ashes was sidelined with foot and heel injuries, added: "I've worked very hard on my fitness. I was disappointed not to play in the Ashes to say the least, but today I felt good.

"To roll them over for 220 on a wicket like this was a great effort by us."

Lee was well-supported by off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, who took two wickets for 23 runs in 10 miserly overs as England's run-rate nosedived.

England captain Andrew Strauss made 63 for the second time in as many matches but, yet again this series, saw his top order fail, with no other home batsman making more Saturday than Owais Shah's 39.

"Our batting hasn't fired for four games, a few of our guys are low on confidence and one-day cricket is not a game when you can scratch around," Strauss said.

"But fair play to Brett Lee, he bowled exceptionally well. When he bowls those 95mph yorkers, it's always a challenge. It was a sensational spell."

England, who rested all-rounder Paul Collingwood and paceman James Anderson, were on course for a 7-0 whitewash in India late last year before the Mumbai terror attacks led to the suspension of their tour when they were 5-0 down.

But barely a fortnight after their Ashes success, losing this series 7-0 is now a real possibility.

Strauss, who won a fourth straight toss, struck three boundaries in four balls off left-arm quick Nathan Bracken thanks to two cuts and a leg-glance.

But Denly, playing his first ODI against Test opposition after he'd sustained a knee injury during a football warm-up before this series got underway, fell for 11 after edging Lee to first slip Cameron White.

Ashes-winning captain Strauss completed a 48-ball fifth with eight fours.

After also making 63 in Wednesday's six-wicket loss at the Rose Bowl, Strauss exited for the same score on England's unlucky number of 111.

Trying to slog-sweep Hauritz, the left-handed opener got a gentle top-edge to Bracken at short third man on a day when England needed a hundred from him.

The series continues on Tuesday with the first of two day/night clashes at Trent Bridge. Link...