Pacemen Andy Bichel and man of the match Brett Lee took seven wickets between them in England's dismal 41-over innings before Adam Gilchrist smashed an unbeaten 69 from 37 balls in Australia's 118-0 from just 12.2 overs.

"It's not very often you can walk off the field and say you've almost put on a 10-out-of-10 performance but we pretty much did that today," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said.

It was Australia's second 10-wicket win in 522 one-day internationals, their biggest one-day win over England and only the second time England had lost by that margin in 365 matches.

England's other drubbing came two years ago against Sri Lanka in Colombo, while Australia also beat West Indies by 10 wickets in Adelaide in the same year.

Australia's batting assault from their two left-handed openers was the fourth-quickest successful run-chase in one-day international history.

Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, who made 45 not out from 37 balls, reached their century partnership in just 10.2 overs and made a mockery of England's pace attack.

"The margin of victory was huge -- they just kept coming at us whether it be with ball and bat," England captain Nasser Hussain told reporters.

"We were outplayed. As long as my players feel they did their best it wasn't a low moment. It's a low moment when people don't give their best."

WINNING STREAK

Gilchrist hit Andy Caddick for five fours -- including one all-run -- in the fifth over of the innings and reached his half-century in 28 balls.

The Australia vice-captain clubbed 15 fours while Hayden smashed six boundaries plus a six off the bowling of Ronnie Irani over long-off in the penultimate over.

World Cup champions Australia extended their winning streak in one-day internationals against England to 12 matches.

The second final in the best-of-three series will be played in Melbourne on Saturday.

England won the toss and decided to bat but lost six wickets in their first 20 overs and only Paul Collingwood, with 43, passed 25 in the innings that lasted 41 overs.

Australia wicketkeeper Gilchrist equalled his own world record of six dismissals which he already shared with England's Alec Stewart and Ridley Jacobs of West Indies.

Lee, who led the attack in the absence of the injured Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie, took 3-29 from his 10 overs including the wickets of openers Marcus Trescothick for a duck and Nick Knight for five.

RISING DELIVERY

Trescothick fended off a short ball to Gilchrist to leave England 1-1 in the second over before Knight -- the leading run-scorer in the series -- was caught behind from another rising delivery in the sixth over.

Hussain (one), who played on to his stumps, and Alec Stewart (12), who was caught behind, struggled with the pace of Brad Williams, who took 2-22.

Bichel took 4-18 including the key wicket of Michael Vaughan, lbw for 21 in the 20th over.

The Queenslander struck again two balls later when he had Ian Blackwell caught at slip for the left-hander's third consecutive duck to leave England in dire trouble at 45-6.

Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne had Collingwood stumped from his final ball of his 10 overs. Warne announced on Wednesday that he would step down from one-day internationals after next month's World Cup to concentrate on Test cricket.

Warne, 33, is Australia's leading wicket-taker in Tests and one-dayers and was given a standing ovation at the end of the England innings after his 1-28.

It was Warne's first match since dislocating his right shoulder in a game against England on December 15.

Bichel also picked up the last two wickets to fall, those of tailenders Jimmy Anderson and Matthew Hoggard for ducks, while Andy Caddick was not out 12.

Australia won seven of their eight preliminary round matches against England and Sri Lanka and have not been beaten by England in a one-day international for almost four years.