England fought back from losing their first five wickets for 33 runs to tie a thrilling game against Australia thanks to a cool-headed partnership of 116 between man-of-the-match Geraint Jones (71) and Paul Collingwood (53).

Reduced to 33-5 in the 10th over, England looked like a side without a plan for the opening overs. They began against the world's finest one-day bowlers, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, as if they were chasing 300 on a flat track, not a moderate 196 in swinging conditions at Lord's.

Marcus Trescothick (6) came out all guns blazing, giving McGrath the charge, and gormlessly chased a wide one. And Michael Vaughan (0) got out trying to pull McGrath when circumspection was needed after two quick wickets.

It was as if England wanted to end the game quickly to score a psychological blow, but their arrogance nearly cost them dear. It was difficult enough to play Lee and McGrath without giving wickets away. Andrew Strauss (2) was bowled by a beautiful inswinging ball from Lee and Flintoff (8) edged a classic McGrath away cutter.

But Jones and Collingwood did what England should have done from the start of the innings by playing intelligently and pacing their innings. Their initial focus was on not losing another wicket and they had added only 44 in 20 overs by the time the 30th over had been bowled. But, crucially, they were still together and England were back in the game, requiring 120 to win at six an over.

Then they began to attack, particularly Jones who played some thrilling shots in flamboyant, wristy fashion. There was a wonderful six over midwicket off Hogg and a powerful strike down the ground off Gillespie. This innings was his best for some time for England and will give him confidence ahead of the Ashes, especially as he has the hardest job in cricket of playing opposite Adam Gilchrist. Collingwood did what he does best, played a secondary role to a more attacking player by conceding the strike whenever he could.

By the time the pair were separated when Collingwood was run out for 53 in the 44th over, it looked like Jones or bust for England. Then when he fell lbw for 71 to the part-time seam of Mike Hussey in the 46th over, Australia were strong favourites.

But some hearty blows from Gough (12) and Giles (20*), along with some streaky boundaries meant it came down to 10 off the last over, and then three to win off the last ball, from Glenn McGrath. A nervous fumble from Brett Lee at third man saw England home for two to earn the first tie in a one-day final at Lord's.

England will rue their lack of composure at the start of their innings, but they had bowled superbly to restrict Australia to 196 all out. The powerful pairing of Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison grabbed three wickets apiece in the middle game after Australia had raced to 50-0 off 39 balls, and once again roughed up Australia's tail with short-pitched bowling.

Only Hussey's excellent knock of 62* and an uncharacteristically slow 29 off 71 balls from Andrew Symonds got Australia to anything like a decent total. Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn and Matthew Hayden still look in poor form and have only three ODIs and a county match to put it right before the 1st Test on July 21.

England's fine bowling is not making it easy for them to get in touch, and a tie speaks eloquently of how well-matched these sides are going into the three-match NatWest Challenge.

England: MP Vaughan (capt), ME Trescothick, AJ Strauss, KP Pietersen, A Flintoff, PD Collingwood, GO Jones, AF Giles, D Gough, SJ Harmison, SP Jones.

Australia: RT Ponting (capt), AC Gilchrist, ML Hayden, DR Martyn, A Symonds, MJ Clarke, MEK Hussey, GB Hogg, B Lee, JN Gillespie, GD McGrath.

2 Jul, 2005