England notch eighth successive one-day victory against Australia Ravi Bopara (82) and Ian Bell (75) shared a stand of 90 at The Oval as England's batsmen consolidated an effective performance from their bowlers to complete the task with six wickets and more than four overs to spare. Bell, a revelation at the top of the order since his ODI recall last month, brought up his 50 in 71 balls with his fourth boundary - to add to a straight six off Shane Watson - and Bopara was more fluent still on a good batting surface in a chanceless half-century from only 54 deliveries. The outcome was rarely in the remotest doubt, though, once Australia's innings stalled in the middle overs. Opener Watson's half-century had hinted at much better than 251 for seven, after Michael Clarke won the toss. Watson (66) reached 50 with his eighth four at a run a ball but took another 30 over his last 14 runs, before George Bailey cashed in his lengthy reconnaissance in a career-best 65. The tourists reached three figures in the 20th over. But there was just one boundary, for the loss of Clarke's wicket, in the next 10 as Graeme Swann in particular put the brakes on. James Anderson, nursing a tight groin from Saturday's series opener at Lord's, was unfit and replaced by Jade Dernbach - who took the new ball alongside Steven Finn. He and number three Peter Forrest had to start again, after a half hour rain stoppage midway through the 12th over. But Bopara's part-time medium-pace immediately brought the substantial bonus of Clarke's wicket, attempting to farm off-side runs but getting an inside-edge behind instead. Bailey roused himself to reach his second one-day international 50 in 72 balls. But Bresnan beat a Bailey heave for the first of two wickets in four balls. England's reply did not need to be much more than competent, all the more so after a wayward first two overs with the new ball from Mitchell Johnson set up the chase. Alastair Cook was lbw pushing forward to first change Clint McKay, and Trott bowled off an inside-edge as he advanced to Shane Watson. But Bell made few mistakes as he continued his prolific form since replacing the retired Kevin Pietersen. Matthew Wade dropped him on 38, standing up to Watson. But after Warner did likewise at point at the start of Brett Lee's second spell, Bell could add only another five runs before being bowled when he missed a cut at the first delivery from Clarke. Eoin Morgan was saved by DRS, and the faintest of inside edges according to Hostpot, when Clarke - and umpire Richard Illingworth, initially - thought he was gone lbw for a second-ball duck. That moment of controversy passed, England continued seamless progress to a routine and impressive win - and the only shame was that Bopara managed to run himself out two runs short of the finish line. coasted to their eighth successive one-day international victory, to go 2-0 up on Australia in the NatWest Series. That moment of controversy passed, England continued seamless progress to a routine and impressive win - and the only shame was that Bopara managed to run himself out two runs short of the finish line.