CARDIFF: George Bailey top scored with 87 as Australia struggled to make a competitive first innings total in the fourth one day international at Cardiff.
The vice-captain passed 1000 runs in his 28th ODI and smashed three sixes off slow bowler James Tredwell. But the England slow bowler responded by taking three late wickets to help dismiss the tourists for just 227 off 48.2 overs.
Bailey stood virtually alone in his defiance at SWALEC Stadium as his team-mates struggled to come to terms with the England attack and tricky early conditions.
Having been reduced to 57-4, Australia battled back and were well poised to set a target of over 250 until a late batting collapse which saw their last five wickets fall for just runs 18 runs.
England made full use of seamer friendly, slightly damp early pitch conditions to make quick in-roads to the Aussie top order.
Steven Finn (2-43) struck with only the second delivery of the day as Australia were scrambled to 57-4. The Middlesex man swung the ball into Aaron Finch, trapping the opener lbw for a duck.
Boyd Rankin (2-31) removed the dangerous Shane Watson with the last ball of his second over. The 6ft 8in Irishman managed to get one to bounce and move away from the Aussie batsman who, having made six, edged an easy catch through to Buttler.
Shaun Marsh (25) looked well set until he gloved an attempted hook through to Buttler and give Ben Stokes his first ODI victim.
Finn trapped Aussie captain Michael Clarke (22) lbw - walking off after failing with his referral as TV replays upheld Indian umpire S Ravi's decision and showed the ball just clipping the stumps.
Bailey and Adam Voges steadied the ship with Bailey punishing Tredwell severely but their 67-run partnership ended when Voges was bowled by Ravi Bopara for 30.
Matthew Wade (36) joined Bailey and they upped the tempo with a quickfire 85-run partnership - hitting 39 runs off five overs in the batting power play. But then came a real end of Tredwell removed Wade and Bailey's 91-ball innings with five boundaries and three sixes ended when he was caught behind off Rankin.
Tredwell (3-53) mopped up the last two, bowling both Mitchell Johnson and Clint McKay.
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