England get a wake-up call ahead of big final

Women's World Cup finalists England slumped to an eight-wicket defeat to Australia today with captain Charlotte Edwards admitting her side "weren't up for it".

England had already qualified for Sunday's decider and went through the motions at the North Sydney Oval in their last Super Six game.

Australia knocked off England's 161 all out in 34 overs but it was a hollow victory as the defending champions saw their own hopes of sneaking into the final crushed by New Zealand's 223-run victory over Pakistan today.

England went into the match unbeaten in the tournament and skipper Edwards is banking on her side regaining their focus before facing New Zealand in Sydney.

"It was a really disappointing show from our girls. We weren't up for it," said Edwards (below). "Hopefully this is a blip and thank God it's not Sunday and the final."

Australia captain Karen Rolton was pleased that her team had finally gelled but knew it was too little, too late.

"It's very disappointing we're not playing in the final," she said. "It was a good effort and it's the first time we've put all the facets of our game together."

After winning the toss and opting to bat England slumped to 46 for three after 13 overs with fast bowlers Sarah Andrews and Rene Farrell doing the damage.

Claire Taylor, who top scored for England with 49, and Lydia Greenway launched a rescue mission and put on 60 for the fourth wicket before Greenway was stumped having made 22. That triggered another slump, as England lost four more wickets for just nine, before Nicky Shaw (16) and Jenny Gunn (21) engineered a mini-revival with a late stand of 26.

Australia openers Shelley Nitschke and Leah Poulton got the Aussie reply off to a flying start with a 79-run stand before Rolton and Alex Blackwell finished off the job with another big stand.