Australia captain Ricky Ponting said the world champions had achieved all they wanted to do in beating England by five wickets in the old rivals' final World Cup warm-up match here Friday.

Australia ended a three-match losing streak in one-dayers against England in convincing style by bowling England out for 197 and then knocking off the winning runs with more than nine overs to spare.

"It was a good solid hit-out for the team," Ponting told reporters.

"I said the other day I wanted the guys to approach these games as proper one-day international games and play them with that sort of intensity."

Brad Hogg took two key wickets to get rid of England captain Michael Vaughan (62) and Ian Bell (57) after the duo had put on 116 for the second wicket.

That ended a barren spell of six wicketless matches for the left-arm wrist spinner.

But Ponting said he saw signs of the former postman returning to form in Australia's 106-run opening warm-up win against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

"His last three or four overs in the first game, he started to work out what was the best pace to bowl on these slower wickets and today (Friday) right from the start he bowled a bit quicker through the air.

"He used his variations very well and got two wickets with his wrong-un. It's good to see him back to his lively self again."

Fast bowler Shaun Tait (four for 33) took wickets at both ends of the innings while Stuart Clark (three for 16) chipped in when brought on towards the finish.

Tait, who can be erratic, did concede seven wides but he also reduced England to six for one with a textbook inswinging yorker that had left-hander Ed Joyce plumb lbw before dismissing Kevin Pietersen and capturing two late wickets as well.

"I sat down and had a bit of chat with Shaun about how he can be best used," Ponting explained.

"Today he showed everybody just how effective he can be - and it's not the first time he's done that."

Australia were all but assured of victory after an opening stand of 140 between Adam Gilchrist, who made 72 on his return from paternity leave and Shane Watson (55).

"I thought Gilchrist and Watson were outstanding. They set up the game for us," Ponting said.

Vaughan, while pleased by his own form and that he suffered no discomfort from his hamstring problem, lamented England's failure to build on his stand with Bell.

"It's nice to get a few runs, spend some time in the middle and test the hamstring in a match situation," said Vaughan, whose side thrashed minnows Bermuda by 241 runs here Monday.

"But at 122 for two you expect to get 250 minimum. That kind of score on that kind of pitch would have been a really competitive total.

"But sometimes it's good that something like this happens before the actual tournament starts because it gives us an indication of how we are going to have to play on these kind of wickets."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)