Michael Slater returned to his free-swinging, cavalier best with a match-winning century as NSW crushed England at the SCG.

And Steve Waugh played an incredible late cameo that kept his faint World Cup hopes alive.

Slater, the effervescent opener who lost his Test place to Justin Langer last year before being dumped from the NSW side as well, earned a last-minute call-up against the Poms when Mark Waugh withdrew because of a groin strain.

Chasing 207 for victory, NSW finished 2-211 to win by eight wickets, with Slater cracking 115 from 136 balls with 13 fours and a six.

Waugh elected not to give himself a bowl during the England innings and, just when it seemed he wouldn't get a bat either, he came in late and smashed three sixes from five balls in the final over to secure victory.

He made 24 not out from 12 balls.

His first six landed in the top row of the Members' Stand as a crowd of 13,278 went absolutely nuts, chanting "Steve Waugh, Steve Waugh" as he walked off after his third six went into the MA Noble Stand.

Remarkably, Slater's crackerjack knock was the highest one-day score of his career for either NSW or Australia.

His previous best was 96 against Queensland at the Gabba way back in 1993-94. He has one century to his credit in English county cricket.

Starting his innings under a striking red sky at dusk caused by the Sydney bushfires, the 32-year-old raced to his half-century from only 53 balls, belting 18 runs off all-rounder Andy Flintoff's seventh over.

He reached triple figures by charging offspinner Ian Blackwell and driving him to the fence through mid-off. His 50 had come in style, too: a cracking pull over the square leg fence off Flintoff where the locals were already loving every minute.

Slater has many fans.

His innings provided welcome relief after England took its time to reach 206. The tourists lost their final wicket with only four balls remaining in their last over on a pitch NSW proved to be fair and friendly.

Seemingly devoid of any attacking intent, England crawled to 77 runs from 25 overs. Ronnie Irani snuck the total past 200 with 81 from 120 balls, including 11 fours, but it was too little too late.

A match between an international side and Australia's strongest one-day State team should in theory be a tight contest, but the game was spoiled by yet another inept performance from Nasser Hussain's men.

Maybe they should be asked to help put out the bushfires.

They can put a dampener on anything.

Slater was 74 when he and England wicketkeeper Alec Stewart were involved in a little by-play. Slater attempted a quick single from offspinner Jeremey Snape and then blocked Stewart's throw at stumps by running down the middle of the pitch.

Stewart appealed, claiming Slater had obstructed what would have been a direct hit at the bowler's end, but the umpires gave Slater not out.

Next over, he drove a four and a member of the crowd who grabbed the ball as it reached the fence disappeared towards the exit for a few minutes and delayed play.

Nothing else could stop Slater until he chipped a lazy flick off his pads to mid-wicket.

And then Waugh, desperate to somehow get in the World Cup squad, produced the kind of drama only he seems capable of.

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