Bowlers Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath inspired Australia to a gripping 10-run win over England to go one-up in the finals of the triangular one-day series in Sydney yesterday.

England seemed to be cruising to victory at 198 for four in the 43rd over chasing Australia's 232 for eight off 50 overs when skipper Warne sparked a tumble of wickets to put the skids under England's batting order.

England crashed, losing five wickets for six runs in 22 balls but still had a chance when last pair Robert Croft and Alan Mullally needed 12 from the final over.

McGrath missed an easy run-out at the bowler's end but with the next ball uprooted Mullally's middle stump to finish with 4-45, having earlier had 33 taken from his first five overs.

Nasser Hussain, who gave England sight of victory with his gritty 58 off 98 balls, threw it away when he charged down the pitch and was stumped off a Warne turner.

Adam Hollioake looked dreadfully unlucky when he was given out lbw on the next ball by umpire Steve Davis and in the following over by Shane Lee, Brendon Julian ran 40 metres to catch Vince Wells for 33. McGrath then had Mark Ealham caught behind and bowled Darren Gough to make victory a formality.

But the win came at a price, with man-of-the-match Michael Bevan to take no further part in the finals after badly dislocating a finger off a vicious pull shot from England captain Alec Stewart who crashed 27 off 18 balls.

Adam Dale (2-33) picked up Stewart at mid-wicket but the England captain refused to walk until umpire Darrell Hair eventually gave him out.

England consolidated to be 114 for two in the 26th over before Ricky Ponting ran out the dangerous Graeme Hick for 42 and McGrath had Neil Fairbrother caught behind for eight.

Hussain and Wells survived Warne's mesmerising spell to share a match-high stand of 67 that seemingly had England primed for success.

But batting was never easy on an awkward pitch and once Warne made the breakthrough, the floodgates opened.

Bevan's controlled unbeaten innings of 69 off 74 balls lifted Australia. Bevan's knock was sorely needed after Ealham (3-45) and Wells (3-30) exploited the humid conditions and a slow pitch.

The one-day specialist left-hand batsman survived a close run-out attempt on six and was not afraid to loft the ball in pursuit of boundaries as Alec Stewart kept men inside the fielding circle.

Mark Waugh made a patient 42 but no one else passed 30 and the highest partnership was the opening stand of 40.

Wells, playing in his first international tournament at the age of 34, knocked over Waugh, Ricky Ponting for 10 and Darren Lehmann for 19 as Australia slipped to 115 for four after 25 overs.

Damien Martyn, Shane Lee and Brendon Julian all played important cameo roles before falling to Ealham, while Bevan reached his 50 off 57 balls.