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ADELAIDE, Sunday (AFP) - An ice-cool Michael Clarke, unflappable in his first one-day international, guided Australia to a thrilling four-wicket win over England in a tri-nations series one-day clash under lights here Sunday night.

Floundering with 104 for six wickets in the 37th over, Australia finished with 153 for six -- with 15 balls to spare -- as they chased down England's 152 all out.

England's consolation in defeat was that they earned the single bonus point which is likely to ensure they qualify to play Australia in the finals of the 190,000 (112,000 US) contest.

Clarke, 21, went to the wicket with Australia an uncertain 97 for four, but held firm to make an unbeaten 39 from 47 balls, with three boundaries.

He and number eight batsman Shane Watson piloted Australia across the line with a 49-run stand which enabled the home country to complete their 11th successive win against England.

Australia captain Adam Gilchrist denied his side deliberately slowed their run chase to ensure they play England in the finals.

Because of Australia's slow scoring, England collected a bonus point which boosts their chances of pipping Sri Lanka for a place in the finals.

Gilchrist said the pitch was not conducive to strokeplay.

"Obviously it was not the most exciting game for spectators to watch, but it was an interesting result in difficult conditions for one-day cricket," he said.

Gilchrist said that, after England were skittled for a low total, he was keen to seek a bonus point by knocking off the runs in 40 overs, but his early dismissal and that of fellow opener Jimmy Maher had placed the hosts in "damage control".

England captain Nasser Hussain lamented his side's inability to sum up the pitch.

After scoring 279 on the same pitch to beat Sri Lanka Friday, Hussain said English expectations were of another score around 250 after winning the toss and batting.

"The one thing we did wrong was we didn't quickly grasp what a good score was out there," Hussain said.

"A day ago 260 was a good score and today 180 would have been a good score.

"The wicket was a lot worse, but it looked pretty much the same, so we went about it thinking we needed 250-260 when in fact if we could have batted a little bit more sensibly we could have possibly got a score that was defendable."

England's opening bowlers, Andy Caddick and Jimmy Anderson, found peak form to lift the side's hopes in the early overs.

Anderson trapped Jimmy Maher (0) in his first over, and Caddick accounted for Adam Gilchrist (four) in his second over.

Hussain made the unusual decision to allow Caddick and Anderson to bowl their full quota of 10 overs without a break.

The move paid dividends, with Australia struggling to 46 for two in the first 20 overs.

Anderson's spell of 10 overs (with six maidens) for a return of one for 12 was the most economical spell by an England bowler in a one-day international for almost 11 years.

It equalled former all-rounder Ian Botham's 2-12 from 10 overs against Pakistan, also in Adelaide, in March, 1992.

When third-wicket pair Damien Martyn and Michael Bevan scrounged 91 runs off 189 balls to take Australia to 96 for two, the match appeared to be virtually over.

But left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell stepped in to grab three crucial wickets as Australia lost four wickets for eight runs in four overs as the score skidded to 104 for six.

Bevan (30), Brett Lee (0), Martyn (59) and Andrew Symonds (0) all lost their wickets in the procession.

Bevan's runs came from 90 balls, while Martyn needed 102 deliveries.

Earlier, Australia's attack reduced England's batting to a shambles.

Making light of temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) -- the Australian bowlers performed superbly after England won the toss.

England never recovered after left-arm speedster Nathan Bracken, making his first appearance in the competition, snapped up three prize wickets in his opening six overs. He finished with 3-21 from 7.3 overs.

The only batsman to cause Australia major problems was Paul Collingwood, with an unbeaten 63 from 106 balls, laced with three fours and a six. 

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