Mahmood double blow lifts England

Sajid Mahmood struck a double blow for England just as the lights appeared to be going out on their ICC Champions Trophy campaign.

Fellow Lancashire fast bowler James Anderson also claimed a wicket as Australia, faced with a paltry target of 170 for victory, were reduced to 34 for three at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

They had charged to 30 without loss in the fourth over when one of the floodlights failed, forcing the players off the field for five minutes.

But, with the first ball back after the interruption, Mahmood nipped one back to send Adam Gilchrist's off-stump cartwheeling out of the ground.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting then nicked low to slip where Andrew Strauss took a fine catch to further improve the mood.

Anderson then bowled Shane Watson with a delivery which did not get up as high as the batsman expected.

Earlier a calamitous collapse saw England lose 10 wickets for 86 runs after a healthy opening stand between Andrew Strauss (56) and Ian Bell (43).