Steve Orme at the SCG, Sportal
A damaging spell from part-time seamer Paul Collingwood has left the third one-day international delicately poised at the SCG.
Chasing 215 for victory, Australia have struggled to 5-114 after 25 overs, with David Hussey (7) and Steve Smith (9) the not out batsman.
The home side requires a further 101 runs off 150 deliveries to take a 3-0 lead in the seven-match series.
Collingwood removed Cameron White (7 off 23) and the dangerous Brad Haddin (54 off 59) in consecutive overs to give the hosts hope of an unlikely victory after a disappointing effort with the bat.
The hosts made a shaky start to their pursuit when in-form duo Shane Watson (9) and Shaun Marsh (6) both departed inside five overs.
Watson fell victim to his own aggression when he was clean bowled by Chris Tremlett (1-37) attempting a full-blooded cover drive, while Marsh was trapped LBW by Ajmal Shahzad (1-20) to a ball that straightened from around the wicket.
While Haddin hit the England attack to all parts of the ground, including a glorious cover drive for six off Tremlett, Clarke struggled to hit the ball off the square.
The skipper managed just nine off 31 deliveries before he mistimed an onside flick straight to Michael Yardy at short mid wicket to become debutant Chris Woakes’ (1-14) first ODI victim.
White also struggled before he was trapped LBW off Collingwood’s second ball, before Haddin holed out in the deep.
Earlier, an unbeaten 84 off 119 deliveries from Jonathan Trott saved the tourists from total embarrassment as they were bundled out in the 48th over.
Trott’s patient knock consisted of just three boundaries after arriving at the crease in the opening over of the innings, while Luke Wright (32 off 46) and Eoin Morgan (30 off 41) were the only other batsman to provide any resistance.
With fellow spearhead Shaun Tait sidelined with a thigh injury, Brett Lee (3-27) bowled with pace and bounce to finish the pick of the Australian attack.
He was ably supported by left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty (2-37), who made the most of his opportunity after replacing the injured Nathan Hauritz (shoulder).
The tourists, who entered the clash without Kevin Pietersen (groin) and Tim Bresnan (calf), were instantly on the back foot when Lee trapped the dangerous Matt Prior LBW for a duck with the fifth ball of the innings.
Strauss (23) was the second man to depart when he was run out by the length of the pitch after a calamitous mix up with Trott.
The visitors suffered another body blow when Shane Watson (1-17) removed the in-form Ian Bell for 10 with a spectacular caught and bowled.
Morgan enjoyed a 57-run stand with Trott before he slapped an innocuous delivery from David Hussey (1-24) to Clarke to spark a mini collapse as Collingwood (1) and Yardy (7) were removed by Doherty to leave the visitors reeling at 6-130.
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