England take firm command against Australia

Birthday boy Stuart Broad's four wickets, the first taking him past a century in one-day international cricket, and half-centuries from Andrew Strauss and man-of-the-moment Eoin Morgan were too much for the tourists.

There was also a significant landmark for Paul Collingwood, who became his country's all-time record ODI runscorer in the course of his 48.

The occasion was notable for more than a pair of personal milestones, though, England striking an impressive note as they restricted their opponents to a mediocre 239-7 and then sauntered past their target – despite a minor late wobble – with almost five overs to spare.

Australia must therefore win the final three matches of the series, starting at Old Trafford on Sunday, to avoid being on the wrong end of each of their most recent meetings with the old enemy in all three international formats.

Yesterday's outcome was rarely in doubt once Strauss's run-a-ball half-century set the tone for an England reply which quickly overshadowed Cameron White's best efforts at salvaging a defendable total.

With Craig Kieswetter gone early, caught behind aiming a typically expansive drive at Doug Bollinger (3-46), Strauss and Kevin Pietersen were soon peppering the boundary boards.

The spectators beyond them, in fact, were in the England captain's sights as he crashed a six over Clint McKay's head and launched a one-bounce four over extra-cover to count 10 from two free-hits in the seamer's nervy first over.

Strauss was intent on proving he can hit down the ground, as well as square with the wicket – and Pietersen, without an ODI 50 in his last 12 attempts, also had plenty of motivation.

He appeared set for a major contribution this time until smearing Steven Smith's leg-spin to midwicket, where Ricky Ponting leapt high to take an outstanding one-handed catch.

Strauss (51) fell disappointingly when he chipped a return catch back at Nathan Hauritz.

But the run rate established had bought plenty of time for the batsmen to come – and although Collingwood was far from established when joined by Morgan, Australia could exert little pressure.

Morgan (52) immediately confirmed his excellent form with an impudent paddle-sweep from the first ball he faced, when almost any other player would surely have at least paid off-spinner Hauritz the respect of pushing up the line in defence.

There were to be only three fours in his 59-ball 50, but Morgan's uncanny limited-overs skills incorporate finding the gaps almost at will for ones and twos as well as clearing the ropes.

Bollinger returned to bowl Collingwood off an inside-edge. Then after James Hopes had Luke Wright chopping on, and – on the same score, with 29 runs still needed – Morgan edged some extra bounce from Bollinger behind, Australia's hopes reached a fleeting high.

As in their series-opening win at the Rose Bowl three days ago, England's wickets column was not entirely healthy. But the tail had time on their side to complete the job without undue drama, Graeme Swann putting Australia out of their misery by hitting McKay for six over long-off to chalk up England's 10th successive win across all formats. White (86no), playing by necessity against his naturally aggressive instincts for much of his innings, had earlier dug in for a partial Australia recovery from 118-5 in 30 overs.

Caught behind off a no-ball from Wright on only three, he kept his cool and then upped the tempo in a sixth-wicket stand of 84 with Smith.

Shane Watson (57) put the pace to a half-century opening stand with Tim Paine as the tourists threatened to cut loose after Ponting had won the toss on an increasingly bright afternoon.

Watson and then Paine began with a flurry of boundaries, James Anderson suffering most as the 50 was rattled up in under nine overs.

The openers appeared to have plenty of power to add until Paine edged an unremarkable delivery on his pads behind to give Broad his century of wickets.

Ponting's dismissal reflected much more credit on Broad, who got one to kick from a decent length just outside off-stump for another caught-behind.

Broad soon struck again too, his third success at a cost of only 12 runs as England were rewarded for posting a short-leg when Michael Clarke failed to fend the ball down or wide of Swann.

Watson's half-century ended in anti-climax when he mis-pulled Wright to lob a gentle skier into the leg-side for Kieswetter's third catch.

Then after Anderson returned to rip a quick inswinger through Michael Hussey, White and Smith had little licence to attack as Australia's batting resources threatened to run out early.

White struggled to either rotate the strike or find the boundary in a 72-ball 50 which contained just four fours and a six over long-on off Swann.

He stuck at it with admirable tenacity, helping to grab 70 runs from the last 10 overs but unable ultimately to push England from their comfort zone with either ball or bat.