In a way that only the hottest of favourites can appreciate, Australia will have enjoyed having its batting put under pressure by England in the CricInfo Women's World Cup game at Lincoln Green today.

Instead of the steam-rollering batting against considerably less likely opponents, where perhaps the top three or four batsmen get to have a decent stay in the middle, Australia had to call on its lower order to give it a defendable total against England.

Australia batted out the 50 overs to finish with 190/7 and then inflicted more punishment on the hapless English who were dismissed for 136 - a 54-run loss.

With leading batsmen Belinda Clark (2), Lisa Keightley (10), Karen Rolton (17) and Joanne Broadbent (10) all failing to kick on in their usual fashion, it was left to, firstly, Zoe Goss and Olivia Magno, and then Therese McGregor and Cathryn Fitzpatrick to give substance to the innings.

Australian coach John Harmer said: "A fright is good for you sometimes. Our middle order has not had a lot of batting in the tournament and they rallied when they needed to.

"They put their heads down, did nothing silly, hit into the spaces and ran hard.

"They had to make it happen, it didn't just happen," he said.

Goss was the most prolific. She was out one run short of what would have been a deserved half century. She batted sensibly and accumulated runs in style rather than with big hitting and was trapped leg before wicket by Melissa Reynard.

Her partnership with Magno realised 67 runs but her dismissal became a double blow when two balls later Magno was also out to Reynard, well caught in the covers for 32.

It was the crucial stage of the innings. England needed to be able to apply the pressure.

However, the Australians relished the chance and any hopes England had were torn apart by Fitzpatrick and McGregor who added 32 runs in the last three overs.

"We've still got a lot to do on our game. Our ground fielding was not anywhere good enough. There were fumbles, we didn't get the ball back cleanly to the wicket-keeper.

"Good sides feed off those sort of things when they play against you.

"Our bowlers lifted up today and Fitzy [Cathryn Fitzpatrick] bowled as well as she has through the tournament," Harmer said.

England's batting response was based on hope rather than fact. The point was simply that the side had not performed well enough at any stage of proceedings to have a realistic chance of upsetting the Australians.

Fitzpatrick's speed was too much for a top order that has hardly fired a shot and she finished with 3-22 from nine overs.

Any hopes of an English recovery were curtailed by Charmaine Mason, who took 3-20 from 8.3 overs, and Avril Fahey with 3-23 from six overs.

Again the best of the English batsmen was Claire Taylor who scored 45 but, as has become English habit, she lacked any support.

Coach Paul Farbrace said: "We had Australia 40/3 and they didn't expect to be that against us. We competed for two-thirds of the game.

"But you have got to compete for 100 overs.

"I would have settled for us losing by scoring 170-180 in positive fashion but scoring 140s are not enough.

"Our batting has not improved at all during the tournament. Claire Taylor has scored a 60 and a 40 but no-one is getting us a 70 or 80 and that is what we have to have.

"We have a good bowling unit that can match anyone.

"But if you bat first and score 140 that is not good enough and if you are 0/2 batting second, when the ball is doing nothing, you can't compete," he said.

Farbrace said that while it was frustrating, coaching the side was worthwhile.

"You can see the improvement in the bowling and fielding and we have the best wicket-keeper in the tournament. But batting wise, until you can perform consistently you can't expect to compete," he said.

England's hopes are all but gone.

The tournament situation is:

England (four points), to qualify for the semi-finals, has to firstly beat both Sri Lanka and New Zealand, and then hope that South Africa beats New Zealand tomorrow.

South Africa (six points) has three games left, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland.

India (six points) has two games left, against Ireland and Sri Lanka.

If England wins both its remaining games, and South Africa loses to New Zealand, England's hopes rest on South Africa also losing to both Australia and Ireland.

© CricInfo