Birthday boy Damien Martyn scored an effortless 78 to steer Australia to a six-wicket victory over England in their Group A Champions Trophy match.

The win put Australia back in the hunt for a semi-final place in the tournament, with another key game to come against India on October 29.

Chasing 170 to win after bowling England out for 169 in 45 overs, Australia's top order cracked under pressure for the second consecutive match, losing 3-4.

The first three wickets produced only 44 runs in Wednesday's 10-run loss to West Indies and against England, Australia found itself 3-34.

But Martyn, who hit 12 boundaries and faced 91 deliveries, combined with Mike Hussey for a match-winning partnership of 118 for the fourth wicket.

The stylish right-hander overcame the slow-paced wicket to reach his 50 from 35 balls with nine fours, taking 13 from one Steve Harmison with the lanky paceman taking 1-45 from 4.5 overs.

Martyn, who turned 35 on Saturday, was finally out caught behind off Harmison at 4-152 in the 35th over.

Hussey, who took 67 balls for his first boundary, reached an unbeaten 32 from 85 balls as Australia scored 4-170 to win with 13.1 overs to spare.

Left-arm spinner Michael Yardy slowed up Australia nicely with 0-18 from his 10 overs.

Australia had reached 0-30 before a 10-minute delay because of a light malfunction.

Adam Gilchrist was out next ball, bowled Sajid Mahmood for 10.

Captain Ricky Ponting fell two overs later, caught at slip by Andrew Strauss for one.

Opener Shane Watson soon followed, bowled James Anderson in the Queenslander's second dismissal in a row to a mis-timed pull shot.

Earlier, Queensland pace duo Mitchell Johnson and Watson had put Australia in a strong position, bowling England out for 169 in 45 overs.

Watson bowled with great accuracy in his seven overs to return the figures of 3-16, highlighted by his tactical victory over England captain and No.4 batsman Andrew Flintoff who was caught at deep mid-wicket for four.

Johnson, recalled for spinner Brad Hogg, claimed 3-40 including the key wicket of Kevin Pietersen caught behind for one.

Watson removed opener Ian Bell (43), skipper Andrew Flintoff (4) and Michael Yardy (4) as England lost 10 for 86 on a slow-paced Jaipur wicket that made dashing strokeplay difficult.

Left-handed opener Andrew Strauss top-scored for England with 56.

Gilchrist became the first player to take 350 catches in one-day internationals, gloving five chances behind the stumps to lift his career tally to 354 and falling one shy of the world record of six in an innings, which he has already set three times.

Ponting won the toss and decided to field first in case the dew made conditions slippery at night. That didn't happen.

Bell and Strauss put Australia on the back foot with a fine start of 83 in 18.2 overs.

Opening bowlers Brett Lee (0-25) and Nathan Bracken (1-38) had little impact but Glenn McGrath picked up two late wickets for 36 in a solid display.

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