Shane Watson Ton Inspires Australia Win In Final ODI VS England (PICTURES)

Going Out With A Bang
The Australian team celebrate with the trophy after winning the fifth One Day International (ODI) cricket match between England and Australia at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England on September 16, 2013. Shane Watson's century saw Australia to a 49-run win over England in the fifth one-day international at Southampton as their lengthy tour ended with a 2-1 series victory. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPL
The Australian team celebrate with the trophy after winning the fifth One Day International (ODI) cricket match between England and Australia at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England on September 16, 2013. Shane Watson's century saw Australia to a 49-run win over England in the fifth one-day international at Southampton as their lengthy tour ended with a 2-1 series victory. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPL
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Finally, it is over. An absorbing Ashes summer ended with as much of a whimper as the Australian Test team, as Shane Watson helped the Baggy Greens to claim a series victory in what felt like an unremitting ODI series in England.

Watson's mighty 143 proved too much for England in a 49-run win at the Ageas Bowl, and gave Australia some consolation silverware at last this summer.

Michael Clarke's team comfortably defended 298 all out under lights to take the NatWest Series 2-1 and perhaps soothe their Ashes and Champions Trophy disappointments on the long flight home.

Watson ended a fraught summer fruitfully

They will be able to re-engage hostilities in the Ashes rematch in Brisbane with a notable win behind them, albeit not the one most coveted by themselves.

England's attempt at a ground-record run chase featured another costly run-out via another mix-up between openers Michael Carberry and Kevin Pietersen.

This time, unlike in the rain-wrecked match at Edgbaston last week, Pietersen was the fall guy - and then despite a 92-run stand between Ravi Bopara (62) and Jos Buttler, England could not get competitive on the way to 249 all out in 48 overs.

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