England completed an upset two-match sweep of Australia in the limited-overs tri-series cricket tournament yesterday when the visitors won the rain-affected second final by 34 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis scoring system.

England completed an upset two-match sweep of Australia in the limited-overs tri-series cricket tournament yesterday when the visitors won the rain-affected second final by 34 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis scoring system.

Australia had 152 for eight off 27 overs in reply to England's 246 for eight from 50 overs before rain ended play at the Sydney Cricket Ground. England's bowlers enjoyed the better of the conditions with Liam Plunkett (3-43) extracting fierce swing to upend Australia's top order in overcast conditions.

Paul Collingwood earlier continued his storming finish to the tour with a telling 70 runs.

Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who will retire after the World Cup, delivered a leg-side full toss with the final ball of the first innings at his home ground and Paul Nixon was out to Brad Hodge on the boundary, giving McGrath a final-ball wicket.

Wet weather twice disrupted the Australians' chase and the loss of five wickets in the first dozen overs of the innings revised the target to 211 from 33 overs when they resumed with the score on 79 in the 17th over.

Plunkett placed Australia into early trouble by removing the prize trio of Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke.

Ponting also fell to Plunkett prior to the first stoppage of the innings.

Plunkett's devastating first over came back when play resumed after the third rain break of the day which proved decisive. When play resumed at 39 for two, Plunkett unleashed an inswinger from around the wicket to knock back Gilchrist's off-stump.- Sapa-AP