SYDNEY, Feb 5 (AFP) - Darren Gough gave England an injury fright before next week's triangular cricket one-day series finals when he strained a hamstring in Australia's four wicket win in the dead rubber here Friday.

The wholehearted Yorkshire paceman finally succumbed to the rigours of a three-plus month tour in which he has played all five Tests and 10 one dayers when he left the field in the 38th over to receive treatment to his left hamstring.

With both teams already through to the best of three finals starting here next Wednesday, Australia gained a psychological edge with the easy victory and losing their premier strike bowler would be a major blow to England.

Damien Martyn (38 not out) and Shane Lee (8 not out) steered Australia to 211 for six in 47 overs in reply to England's 210 for eight off their 50 overs.

Ricky Ponting returned to Sydney and topscored in Australia's chase with 43 in 71 balls as he shared a 79-run third wicket stand with Darren Lehmann, who cracked 41 in 57 balls.

A fortnight after being suspended for three matches by the Australian Cricket Board for being knocked out in a fight in a Sydney bar, Ponting received a rousing ovation when he took to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the first time since the incident.

Alan Mullally temporarily slowed Australia's progress when he dismissed openers Adam Gilchrist for 19 and Mark Waugh for 27 in the 14th over to plunge Australia from 50 without loss to 51 for two.

Ponting and Lehmann became bogged down by the off spin of Robert Croft, who conceded four runs from his first four overs but eventually picked up the pace and took Australia to 130 for two before Lehmann was trapped leg before wicket by Adam Hollioake in the 34th over.

Pinch hitter Brendon Julian came after Lehmann and his 25 off 31 balls put Australia back on top.

Australia suffered a nervous twitch when Julian and Michael Bevan (0) fell in successive overs to send the score to 181 for six in the 43rd over, but Martyn's 38 in 32 balls and Lee brought the victory home.

Adam Dale set up the manageable target when he restricted England with tight and varied medium pace and finished with 2-28 off his 10 overs, snaring Nick Knight for three and Graeme Hick for four.

Dale struck in the fourth and the eighth overs to have England at 26 for two and by the time he finished his 10 overs, the English were 132 for five off 37 overs.

Vince Wells top scored for England with 39 until he was run out off a no ball when he was beaten by a Ponting throw as he scrambled back to the crease at the bowler's end to take the score to 143 for six in the 40th over.

England looked as if they would struggle to reach 200 until Mark Alleyne (38 not out) and Mark Ealham (33) put on 58 runs in 60 balls with Ealham caught at deep mid wicket off Shane Warne in the 49th over.

England have already qualified for next week's finals, while Australia have one more preliminary match against world champions Sri Lanka in Melbourne on Sunday.