Michael Clarke
scored his first one-day international century against England as Australia won
by a crushing 88 runs to go 1-0 up with three to play.
After Friday's opening match was washed out, the visiting skipper's 105 from 102 balls helped his side to 315-7.
George Bailey supported Clarke with 82 off 67 balls to hand Australia a best ODI score against England in the UK.
Despite fifties from Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler, the hosts were dismissed for 227.
England named a strong batting line-up with Ben Stokes at number eight but were arguably a bowler light, relying on Ravi Bopara and Joe Root to deliver 12 overs.
But Morgan's side got off to a good start when Steve Finn dismissed Shaun Marsh caught behind with only the fourth ball of the match.
There was Decision Review System controversy as Shane Watson was adjudged lbw the very next ball, but reprieved on review with third umpire Aleem Dar believing the Australian number three had edged it.
One-day Series
- 1st ODI - Headingley, 6 September, no result
- 2nd ODI - Old Trafford, 8 September, Australia won by 88 runs
- 3rd ODI - Edgbaston, 11 September
- 4th ODI - Cardiff, 14 September
- 5th ODI - Southampton, 16 September
Watson was eventually out for 38 to Bopara, as England
opted to review Richard Kettleborough's not out decision and Dar ruled there had
been an edge to Buttler.
Aaron Finch made 45 before holing out off James Tredwell, although it was England's spinner who was repeatedly punished on a good pitch by Clarke and Bailey.
The pair were in breathtaking form as they put on 155 for the fourth wicket to take the game away from England.
Bailey struck four sixes before eventually falling to Bopara down the leg side while Clarke nicked behind to Boyd Rankin with the damage already done.
That left Morgan's side needing a record ODI run chase of 316 and their chances vanished after a slow start to their innings.
Opener Michael Carberry, making his home ODI debut, struggled before picking out Clarke at backward point off an inspired Mitchell Johnson for just four and Jonathan Trott departed in the same over for a duck attempting to fend off a wicked lifting delivery.
After Joe Root was bowled by James Faulkner, Pietersen, appearing for the first time as a ODI opener on home soil, gave England a glimmer of hope with two sixes in his 66-ball knock.
But once he fell to Watson for 60 it was game over with Bopara falling caught and bowled to Adam Voges before Morgan went for 54, caught in the deep to give Clint McKay a deserved first wicket.
Although Buttler scored a defiant 75 off 65 balls before giving Fawad Ahmed his first international wicket against England, the hosts were bowled out for just 227 and will head to Edgbaston on Wednesday with plenty of food for thought.
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