Australia slumped to a humiliating 4-0 defeat in the one-day international series against England after the hosts cruised to a seven-wicket win in the fifth and final match in Manchester on Tuesday.
In a rain-shortened match, England extended their record to 10 straight one-day victories and reached the target of 138 for the loss of only three wickets with 11 balls to spare, in reply to Australia’s seven for 145 in 32 overs.
Cook made 58 and man of the match Ravi Bopara hit an unbeaten 52 from 56 balls that took the game away from the Australians.
Eoin Morgan stroked the winning runs to finish on nine.
England’s revised target was 138 from 29 overs after a minor rain interruption early in their innings.
Australia may now lose their No.1 world ranking in the near future, with England hosting South Africa in a one-day series from next month.
The game started three and half hours late after rain left the field saturated but the game went ahead from 1730 local time under the lights.
Things were looking positive for Australia when they reached 43 with no wickets down but from then on batsmen came and went with an all too familiar regularity.
Only No.7 George Bailey offered much resistance with a punchy 46 from 41 balls, though opener David Warner chipped in with 32.
Australia’s batsmen were strangled by two unlikely candidates as off-spinner James Tredwell claimed two for 23 from seven overs and occasional medium pacer Bopara took two wickets for just eight runs in four overs.
It was Tredwell, only playing because of an injury to Graeme Swann, who removed Warner lbw and fellow opener Matthew Wade, stumped, after he was deceived by a ripping off-break.
It took Bailey’s aggressive effort down the order to give the tourists a chance to grab a much-needed victory. But again their bowlers later struggled to penetrate the England batting.
England were always in control throughout their run chase, shown by Bopara’s two straight fours off James Pattinson as they closed in on the win.
Australia will depart what has been an unhappy tour of the UK on Wednesday morning.
