England revel in victory over Australia

SYDNEY, Feb 2 (Reuters) England captain Andrew Flintoff said his team's breakthrough win over Australia today was a just result for all the hard work they had put in.

England ended a sequence of nine straight losses to the Australians with a 92-run win that gives them the chance of making the tri-series one-day finals.

''It's been a long time in coming,'' a relieved Flintoff told a news conference.

''We knew tonight was probably our last chance to beat Australia and we had to put in a good performance to stay in this competition.'' He added: ''We showed signs of improvement, we played great tonight but we have to continue it.'' England's unlikely hero was opener Ed Joyce who made 107 to lay the foundation for the team's 292-7.

The 28-year-old said: ''It's unbelievable to score a hundred against Australia in Sydney. Obviously I had a bit of luck along the way but we all we need that.'' Stand-in Australia skipper Adam Gilchrist said: ''We were out there to play and we were up for it but we just couldn't execute the way we wanted to and sustain any real pressure with the ball.

''Good overs were followed by expensive overs and wih the bat we just didn't get the partnerships going.'' Australia were bowled our for 200 with Gilchrist being bowled on the first ball of the innings by Liam Plunkett.

''That first ball pretty much set the tone for the whole innings,'' Gilchrist said.

''But it's not all doom and gloom for us....this just highlights that we've still got a lot to work on and improve.'' Reuters SAM DB1836