Australia has beaten England in a five-run nailbiter to win their one-day cricket finals series two games to nil.

Paceman Brett Lee took 5-30 and Shane Warne celebrated his last one-day international at the MCG with the key wickets of Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart as England was bowled out for 224 off 49.3 overs in reply to Australia's 7-229 from 50.

Lee was named man of the match and man of the one-day series.

It was an incident-packed match, with Australian middle-order batsman Michael Bevan stretchered off the field when he tore his right groin muscle while batting.

Vaughan and Stewart scored 60 apiece to take the game up to Australia, while Australian Brad Hogg continued to impress ahead of next month's World Cup with a top score of 70 and 1-41 from 10 overs.

England needed six off the last over, but Lee bowled Andy Caddick and No.11 James Anderson was run out by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist to end the match.

Warne was the focus of attention, with the crowd roaring its appreciation whenever he was involved in the match.

Lee and captain Ricky Ponting also praised him in their post-match speeches to the crowd.

England seemed headed for a repeat of its embarrassment in Thursday's final when it slumped to 3-20.

But Vaughan, who scored 174 in the Boxing Day Test at this ground, again anchored the innings with 60.

He put on 70 with captain Nasser Hussain, who gave his wicket away when he tried to slog Hogg and was bowled for 26.

Hussain would have made five more except for a fine piece of fielding from Andrew Symonds, who also took two catches.

Symonds was running over the boundary when he caught Hussain, so he deftly flicked the ball back into play to save the runs.

Vaughan combined for 68 with Stewart before he tried to turn Warne to leg and hit a simple catch to Ricky Ponting at mid-wicket.

Stewart then top-edged Warne to Brett Lee at point in the 42nd over to leave his side 6-182.

Paul Collingwood, with an unbeaten 25, kept putting the pressure on Australia, but he ran out of batting partners.

It was an impressive comeback from England, which lost Thursday's match by 10 wickets.

Australia won the toss and batted in the searing heat, which nearly reached 44 degrees.

The heat caused malfunctions in the electronic scoreboard and kept the crowd down to 23,000.

Opening bowler Andy Caddick was outstanding, bowling his 10 overs in the one spell and returning 2-23 to put the early pressure on the Australian top order.

The Australian Cricket Board had just announced Shane Watson would miss the World Cup with a stress-related fracture in his back when Bevan took off for a single.

He pulled up mid-pitch and then collapsed at the non-striker's end, retiring hurt for 10.

The home side was still in trouble at 40 overs with 4-143 - effectively five-for, given Bevan's injury.

But Hogg's stands with tailenders Lee (18) and Andy Bichel (11no) helped Australia amass 86 in the last 10 overs.

Spinner Ian Blackwell returned a miserly 0-32 from 10 overs, while Ronnie Irani took 3-46.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP