ENGLAND failed to land the huge psychological blow they desired ahead of the Ashes series as Australia continued their love affair with Lord's to level the NatWest Challenge.

Faced with the opportunity to claim some silverware ahead of the main event, their first of any sort against the Australians for eight years, Michael Vaughan's England were foiled in their bid to go 2-0 up with one to play by the tune of seven wickets.

The ever-shifting momentum in limited-overs contests between these sides this summer swung violently back towards the tourists, who shaped the outcome in the match's infancy by dismantling England's top order and were always in control in pursuit of 224.

Australia have an affinity with this ground, the traditional home of cricket and one on which they excel beyond all others, having remained unbeaten in 17 Tests stretching back to 1934 and lost only once now in their last nine one-dayers.

Andrew Flintoff's 87, his highest international score this summer and maiden half-century against Australia, provided respectability.

Even after the repair job, which included a century stand with Paul Collingwood for the fifth wicket as England languished on 45-4, it looked a modest total.

If England were to win they needed early breakthroughs which made the fourth ball of the innings particularly galling as Adam Gilchrist had his off-stump uprooted by Darren Gough who had frustratingly overstepped.

By the time Flintoff legitimately dismissed him in the sixth over, Australia were scoring at better than a run a ball.

With Simon Katich laying anchor it was the perfect stage for Ponting, like Flintoff before him, to find some semblance of form.

The Aussie skipper made a superb 111 before holing out to Kevin Pietersen but by that stage the match was over and the series now moves to The Brit Oval for the series finale.

England skipper Michael Vaughan was also looking forward to the clash at The Oval, although he conceded the better team had won today.

He said: "I thought Australia played a good game, at one stage we didn't look like getting 223 but Andrew Flintoff played very well for us as did Paul Collingwood. It sets up the final - it's 1-1 and all to play for."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting was wary of reading too much into his side's emphatic seven-wicket victory over England at Lord's which levelled the NatWest Challenge series.

He added: "It's been a commanding win but a couple of days ago it was England - it's like that this series. You couldn't get a better finale and we're up for it.

"It was a good day all around - winning the toss, bowling well and taking a couple of early wickets.

"Then chasing 220 on that wicket, we thought it would not be problem for us.

"It goes to show what cricket we're

capable of."