Australia have inflicted England's heaviest-ever defeat in terms of runs in a one-day international, prevailing by 221 runs in Melbourne.
The Baggy Greens already held an unassailable 2-0 lead int the best-of-three series, meaning that recently-crowned T20 World Cup winners England were playing for pride.
Instead, they suffered one of their most embarrassing defeats in their history as they were bowled out for just 142 after their hosts had made 355-5.
As a result of rain, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) increased England's target to 364, but it was only significant for the history books with Australia never in danger of not completing a whitewash win.
Despite the efforts of the home team's bowling attack, the headlines belonged to Travis Head and David Warner, who put on 269 for the opening wicket.
"Meaningless cricket played in a meaningless way. It was fulfilling the fixtures, that's all it did."
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) November 22, 2022
Steve Harmison saying what the majority of us are thinking... pic.twitter.com/igguXXrBVv
Warner departed in the 39th over after making 106 from 102 deliveries, before Head produced 152 runs from 130 balls as he was dismissed later in the same over.
While Olly Stone took four of Australia's five wickets, the pace bowler went for 85 runs, and each of England's bowling attack conceded at more than a run per ball.
The solitary positive from England's reply was Jason Roy hitting a morale-boosting 33, albeit from 48 balls as he steadied the ship after fellow opener Dawid Malan went for just two.
James Vince was the only other batsman to score above 20, his 22 coming from 45 deliveries, and England had been on 95-7 until the lower order prevented the scoreline looking even more one-sided that it eventually did.
Nevertheless, England were dismissed in just 31.4 overs, Adam Zampa the pick of the bowlers with 4-31, and there will be a sense of relief that the series is only three matches given the manner of this setback.
Darren Plant
