England's stand-in captain Alec Stewart made no excuses for his team's humiliating defeat at the hands of Australia in the latest NatWest Series encounter at Old Trafford.

England were bundled out for their lowest-ever one-day score of 86 to lose by 125 runs. It was their ninth consecutive one-day defeat and means the remaining qualifying matches in the triangular competition are largely meaningless.

Stewart said:"We have lost heavily and we were never at the races.

"I am not going to use excuses. The fact is that they bowled well in helpful conditions and we were not up to it."

He found some solace in the performance of Ben Hollioake whom the Australians struggled to get away. Stewart said: "Ben Hollioake's bowling was very good - ten overs for 30 was very impressive and he has grown in stature in each game he has played in this series.

"To keep them to 208 at the close of their innings was a good effort.

"But then you get the first four wickets knocked over early in our innings and you do not recover from that."

Australian skipper Steve Waugh had some sympathy for his opposite number. "I do not think he made any tactical errors out there," said Waugh.

"I thought he captained pretty well but what can you do when your side gets bowled out for 86?

"He is the captain but he cannot work miracles."

The next game in the series is between Pakistan and Australia at Chester-le-Street on Saturday while England are back in action against Pakistan at Headingley on Sunday.

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