ENGLAND emerged from their biggest ever one-day victory over Australia with captain Michael Vaughan convinced his side are learning from their previous mistakes.

They completed their first nine-wickets victory in 83 one-day matches against the world champions at Headingley yesterday to claim a 1-0 lead in the three-match NatWest Challenge series after man-of-the-match Marcus Trescothick hit an unbeaten 104.

The convincing triumph, which was completed with four overs remaining, came just five days after they recovered from a perilous 33 for five at Lord's to tie the NatWest Series final off the last ball.

Unlike their Lord's collapse, yesterday England chased down Australia's modest total of 219 for seven in emphatic fashion, with Trescothick claiming his maiden century against the Aussies and Vaughan making 59 not out.

"We learnt a lot from Saturday's game," explained Vaughan. "When you're chasing a smallish total you've just got to make sure you don't allow them back in the game.

"On Saturday, we let them back in the game too early and at 33 for five Australia looked like they were going to win, but this time we wanted to make sure we gave ourselves a platform if we needed to accelerate in the last 10 overs."

The victory could not have been better timed, with the opening Ashes Test due to start at Lord's in a fortnight's time, although Vaughan does not believe the one-day matches are any guide to form in the longer format of the game.

"Only time will tell about this," said Vaughan. "It certainly can't hinder your confidence when you win by nine wickets against a team like Australia, but how much of an effect the one-dayers will have on the Ashes I don't know.

"History suggests it won't have any, but it's important we start playing well as individuals and start hitting the ball nicely and bowling nicely."

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was concerned at his side's inability to record a bigger total, even on a wicket he regarded as one of the toughest he'd encountered.

"There were definitely contrasting conditions," claimed Ponting. "I think our innings was played under cloud and their innings was like playing in Adelaide or somewhere like that - it looked like a really good batting wicket."