KENT wicketkeeper Geraint Jones picked up the man-of-the-match award as England and Australia tied the NatWest Series showdown at Lord's.

In one of the most thrilling one-day internationals ever, Jones played one of the best innings of his career before a crowd of around 24,000.

He walked to the crease with England five wickets down and needing to score 164 runs against a rampant Aussie attack in bowler-friendly conditions.

Jones and Paul Collingwood put on 116 with the Kent man hitting 71 from 100 balls, including two sixes off Jason Gillespie.

After Jones and Collingwood had departed gutsy batting from Darren Gough and Ashley Giles saw to it that England sealed a tie and a share of the trophy.

Afterwards England captain Michael Vaughan said: "We showned character when we looked as if we were down and out.

"Geraint and Colly timed their partnership perfectly ans showed tremendous courage and skill to get us back into things."