VB Series first final, Sydney: Australia 118-0 (12.2) beat England 117 all out (41 overs) by 10 wickets
England's VB Series hopes were left in tatters after Australia cruised to a 10-wicket win in the opening game of the best-of-three finals in Sydney.
Knight is dismissed amidst the carnage
Having bowled the tourists out for a paltry 117, Australian openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden took just 12.2 overs to finish the job.
Gilchrist crashed an unbeaten 67 from 37 balls with 15 boundaries, while Hayden hit the only six of the innings in making 45 from as many deliveries.
Andrew Caddick saw 20 runs smashed from his third over as the home side made merry.
Brett Lee was equally destructive with the ball, taking three wickets at blazing pace, while Andy Bichel struck twice in the 20th over and twice in the 41st to finish with four for 18
Brad Williams added a top-order brace to prove that Australia have no need to worry about the absence through injury of Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie.
Only Paul Collingwood stood firm for the tourists but Shane Warne, back in action just 39 days after dislocating his shoulder, had the all-rounder stumped for 43 to end England hopes.
Wicket-keeper Gilchrist has now made six dismissals on two occasions in one-day internationals - the only player to have done so.
On his home ground, Lee bowled at an average speed in excess of 91mph, his first seven-over spell yielding two wickets and just 20 runs.
Marcus Trescothick was set up by a series of yorkers and then dismissed with a delivery that reared up to clip the glove on the way to wicket- keeper Adam Gilchrist.
His opening partner Nick Knight was not far behind, nicking another express delivery from Lee behind down the leg-side.
Gilchrist smashed his 27th one-day half-century
And Williams benefited from England's eagerness to fight back, with a probing line and slight inswing in overcast conditions.
He accounted for Nasser Hussain, playing onto his stumps and Alec Stewart, caught off bottom-edge and knee pad after a brisk 12 from 13 deliveries.
Even after England had recorded their lowest 15-over total of the series - 38 for four when the fielding restrictions were relaxed - there was no let up.
Bichel ended any hope of an England revival when he had Vaughan lbw to an inswinger for 21, and he struck again two balls later as Ian Blackwell shouldered to slip.
Lee returned to end a seventh-wicket stand of 34 between Collingwood and Ronnie Irani, the Essex captain top-edging an attempted hook high in the air to midwicket.
And Warne used his final delivery in a one-day international at the SCG to dismiss Collingwood and become the highest ODI wicket-taker on this ground.
Bichel then finished the job, James Anderson and Matthew Hoggard both edging behind.
England's side was unchanged from the one that lost to Australia in Adelaide on Sunday.
Matthew Hoggard was preferred to Ashley Giles, although the spinner has returned to full fitness after a broken wrist.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Michael Bevan, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel, Brad Williams.
England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Nick Knight, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Alec Stewart, Paul Collingwood, Ian Blackwell, Ronnie Irani, Andy Caddick, James Anderson, Matthew Hoggard.