Australia v England: Hosts clinch ODI series win with victory in Sydney

Steve Smith made a high-class 94 as Australia beat England by 72 runs in the second one-day international in order to win the series.

The former captain shared stands of 101 and 90 with Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh, who each made half-centurians, as the hosts posted 280-8 inSydney.

When Starc removed Roy and Malan in the first over of the chase, it looked like England was in for a long time.

The tourists were made worse by the fact that Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were also rested.

A 122-run partnership between James Vince and Sam Billings brought England back into contention, but they were all out in the space of three overs.

Australia took an unassailable 2-0 lead into Tuesday's third and final one-day international after Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa took 4-45 and England were dismissed for 208 in 38.4 overs.

Smith in ominous form with Ashes on the horizon

Smith told reporters after making 80 not out in the firstOD that it was the best he had felt in a long time.

I haven't felt that good in a long time and I was in nice positions.

It's likely that the former Australia skipper has found form again after a couple of years and will be back to his best in time for the first Test.

Smith made significant changes to his technique that mean he is more side-on at the crease, as a result of his recent slump.

It was more of a struggle for the older man on a slow pitch at the SCG, but he was still in control for most of his runs.

Smith never looked like he was going to get out.

The new method seemed to allow him to get to the off side more easily without losing his strength through the leg side.

He came unstuck after putting Australia in a strong position, but only after trying to reach his century with a flourish.

Bowlers around the world are starting to get a little nervous because of Smith's revised approach to red ball cricket.

Vince and Billings impress in losing cause

Four times England has been reduced to 0-2 in men's one day cricket. In the last two years, Starc has taken three of them in the first over.

Coming in to face the left-arm quick with his tail up is not ideal for a player on the fringes of the squad.

It was a challenge that Vince had to face, and it was only marginally easier for him when he strode out with England.

With competition for places as ferocious as ever ahead of next year's 50-over World Cup in India, what better chance to stake your claim than on a tricky pitch against a world class attack with your back against the wall in a run chase?

Vince was the first to go on the offensive and hit Agar for a six over extra cover, as he showed the necessary guts to get through the ball.

He held his nerve despite a strike-rate hovering around 50 after facing more than 40 balls.

After back-to-back sixes off Agar got him going and he had raced past Vince by the time the partnership was broken, frustration eventually got the better of the Hampshire man as he tried to hoick Hazlewood over the leg side.

There is reason to be annoyed by the manner in which he was dismissed. When England lost Vince and Moeen Ali, they needed a man like the Kent man to hold them together.

Even though they weren't able to take the game deeper, their contributions keep them in the running for a World Cup place.

The runs need to keep coming if they want a place on the plane to India.

'Australia were ruthless' - reaction

"At the halfway stage it didn't look the easiest of catches but we felt in the game with 280," said James Vince.

It was probably par, just over, because the conditions didn't suit attacking like we normally would. After I and Sam got out of the game, we lost a lot of ground.

Steve Smith said it was nice to get the series win. It's always nice to win even though they're missing a couple of players.

"We had to build partnerships and make sure we took it deep because it wasn't easy for the new batter to come in."

Stuart Clark said it was ruthless from Australia. They were too good for England this time around.

Smith and Labuschagne didn't come back from being down 2-0 in the first over.