England gave Australia its toughest game of the World Cup so far on Sunday and was still beaten soundly.

England had won the toss and batted first in the Super 8s match and looked set to go past 300 runs as Kevin Pietersen scored his team's first century in six tournament matches.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting is run out by England's Paul Collingwood, not seen, during the Cricket World Cup Super 8s match between England and Australia in St Peter's, Antigua on Sunday.
(Matt Dunham/Associated Press)

But Australia dug in and tore through England's middle and tail to precipitate a collapse from 230-5 to 247 all out.

Captain Ricky Ponting then hit 86 to lead Australia to 248-3 and a seven-wicket win that reaffirmed his team's status as overwhelming tournament favourite.

"That's the most we've been tested," Ponting said. "If we'd been chasing 280, it would have been a really difficult run chase … taking a few more risks."

Before Sunday's game at Antigua's Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Australia had easily beaten Scotland, the Netherlands, South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh.

Even after a testing start against England, Australia moved to eight points at the top of the Super 8s standings and looks to be cruising to a third straight title.

It has two points more than Sri Lanka and New Zealand and four more than South Africa.

England is six points back and tied with West Indies and Bangladesh. It must now beat Bangladesh, South Africa and tournament host West Indies and rely on other results if it is to finish in the top four and reach the semifinals.

"We're making it difficult for ourselves," England captain Michael Vaughan said. "We are going to have to win the last three games now."

England starts strong but falters

England had looked set for a far higher total after reaching 164-2 in the 30th over. That was before the dismissals of Ian Bell (77), Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff slowed the run rate.

"We looked like posting 280-290, and I think on that wicket that would have been a really competitive total," Vaughan said. "We could have won today."

Shaun Tait, who finished with 3-41, continued England's woes at the top of the order and Glenn McGrath finished with 3-62. Nathan Bracken took 3-33.

Vaughan and the recalled Andrew Strauss both departed early, playing on from deliveries by Tait.

Vaughan went for five and has now scored a total 12 runs in his past four innings. Strauss, batting at No. 3, was deceived by a slower delivery to go for seven.

Bell, who opened, was joined by Pietersen on 24-2 and, as in Wednesday's two-run defeat to Sri Lanka, the pair forged a steady partnership.

Misjudged cover drive

Bell hit 77 in a 140-run third-wicket stand for his best score of the tournament but his 90-ball innings ended in the 30th over when he misjudged a cover drive off McGrath and hit it straight to Mike Hussey at extra cover.

However, Bell should not even have been on strike. On the previous ball, umpire Rudi Koertzen, trying to get out of the way of a drive from Pietersen, turned a certain four into a single.

That may have been the turning point.

The wickets tumbled and it was left to wicketkeeper Paul Nixon to accompany Pietersen to his fourth one-day century in 48 matches. It contained six fours and a six, with all but one of those boundaries coming in his first 50.

He was eventually out for 104 trying to slog Bracken and getting caught five yards inside the boundary by Michael Clarke. The tail quickly followed.

"If more of our players would get a hundred, we would get to 280 or 300 and we would win the game," Vaughan said. "Kevin played tremendously well, as did Ian Bell, but we didn't have enough players around him to support him and provide the odd cameo toward the end."

Australia openers Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist were both out before they could build imposing totals, but Ponting and Clarke (55 not out) shared a 112-run partnership for the third wicket to help ease Australia to victory.

Caught on the boundary

The pair was reasonably untroubled until Ponting, trying to run a quick single on Flintoff's bowling, was run out from a direct hit by Collingwood.

Andrew Symonds survived a leg before wicket shout on his first ball and had an amazing let off in the 42nd over.

Slogging for a six at mid-wicket, he was caught by Pietersen on the boundary. The off-balance fielder danced inside the rope before tumbling out and releasing the ball. A player must have full control of his movements and the ball to complete a catch.

Symonds made the most of his fortune, hitting a six off the next ball. He reached 28 not out and finished the match with a four.

"On 247, you still have a chance but you need the rub of the green," Vaughan said.

He would suggest England didn't get it.