England captain Andrew Strauss admitted his side "didn't get enough things right" during their 78-run loss to Australia at the Oval.
The hosts saw their hopes of a 5-0 whitewash in the NatWest Series come to an emphatic end when they were bowled out for 212 chasing a target of 291.
Michael Yardy's maiden one-day half-century was the only individual performance of note for England, who had gone into the match off the back of three straight wins over their Ashes rivals.
Michael Clarke made 99 not out for the tourists, sharing in a crucial third-wicket stand of 155 with his skipper Ricky Ponting (92) in a total of 290-5.
Annoying
"It is annoying, there's no doubt about that," said a disappointed Strauss afterwards. "We didn't get enough things right today.
"We got off to a pretty good start with the ball. But Clarke and Ponting played really well in the middle period, where we had done best in the first three games.
"We couldn't stop them scoring, which was a little bit frustrating."
Strauss felt the batsmen had failed to do their job, losing too many early wickets at the start of the run chase.
"We struggled to find ways of 'dotting them up'," added the captain. "We tried seven bowlers, but on a flat wicket it was easy to hit through the line of the ball.
"But we bowled exceptionally well in their batting powerplay, and I think we felt we had a good chance of chasing 290 on a very flat wicket.
"But we just didn't get the batting right.
"I wouldn't be that harsh on the bowlers. I thought it was more the batsmen who were at fault today.
"There were too many early wickets, and that puts a lot of pressure on the middle order - and Australia kept chipping away with wickets.
"It wasn't as good a performance as the first three (matches), and we've got what we've deserved."
Pride
Opposite number Ricky Ponting was proud of his team after they finally got back to winning ways in one-day cricket.
The match also marked another landmark for Australia's skipper, who became just the third batsman to pass 13,000 runs in the 50-over format.
"I'm not sure if relief is the right word," he said. "I'm proud of the boys for the way they played today.
"Things didn't go to plan in the first three games - so what I said to the boys this morning was to keep backing their instincts and talents and soon enough our best cricket is going to come out.
"When you're in a situation like we were today, 3-0 down, it says a lot to be able to bounce back, pick yourself up and play a game like we did."
~ Courtesy: Sky Sports
Michael Yardy's maiden one-day half-century was the only individual performance of note for England, who had gone into the match off the back of three straight wins over their Ashes rivals.
Michael Clarke made 99 not out for the tourists, sharing in a crucial third-wicket stand of 155 with his skipper Ricky Ponting (92) in a total of 290-5.
Annoying
"It is annoying, there's no doubt about that," said a disappointed Strauss afterwards. "We didn't get enough things right today.
"We got off to a pretty good start with the ball. But Clarke and Ponting played really well in the middle period, where we had done best in the first three games.
"We couldn't stop them scoring, which was a little bit frustrating."
Strauss felt the batsmen had failed to do their job, losing too many early wickets at the start of the run chase.
"We struggled to find ways of 'dotting them up'," added the captain. "We tried seven bowlers, but on a flat wicket it was easy to hit through the line of the ball.
"But we bowled exceptionally well in their batting powerplay, and I think we felt we had a good chance of chasing 290 on a very flat wicket.
"But we just didn't get the batting right.
"I wouldn't be that harsh on the bowlers. I thought it was more the batsmen who were at fault today.
"There were too many early wickets, and that puts a lot of pressure on the middle order - and Australia kept chipping away with wickets.
"It wasn't as good a performance as the first three (matches), and we've got what we've deserved."
Pride
Opposite number Ricky Ponting was proud of his team after they finally got back to winning ways in one-day cricket.
The match also marked another landmark for Australia's skipper, who became just the third batsman to pass 13,000 runs in the 50-over format.
"I'm not sure if relief is the right word," he said. "I'm proud of the boys for the way they played today.
"Things didn't go to plan in the first three games - so what I said to the boys this morning was to keep backing their instincts and talents and soon enough our best cricket is going to come out.
"When you're in a situation like we were today, 3-0 down, it says a lot to be able to bounce back, pick yourself up and play a game like we did."
~ Courtesy: Sky Sports
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