ADELAIDE, Dec II: Glenn McGrath ripped through the lower

• order Sunday to

steer "Australia to a six-run victory over Australia A in a World Series limited-overs cricket match at the Adelaide Oval, reports AP.

Fast bowler McGrath finished with 4-43 from 9.3 overs and claimed the last three wickets in the space of four balls as the second-string Australia A team collapsed dramatically with victory in sight.

Australia were dismissed for 202 of 48.3 overs but then replied by bowling out the sec-, ond-strlng team for 196 in 47.3 overs. Australian captain Mark Taylor angrily criticised the concept of an Australia A team after the match.

Taylor said Australian fans should not be forced to divide their support between two teams.

"It was hard yakka (work) and I didn't enjoy the game." Taylor said. "I don't like playing against my own players because It asked the crowd to choose which side It wanted to . follow.

"I don't like ft when the crowd doesn't support us when we play at home."

Australia now have won all four Of their matches in the quadrangular tournament, while Australia A suffered their first loss in three games. The toarnament also includes England (0-1) and Zimbabwe, who are out of finals contention at 0-4.

The Australia A were well placed at 190 for six before Phil Emery was run out for 30 and McGrath produced his impressive final spell.

Michael Slater earlier topscored for Australia with 64. while captain Mark Taylor contributed 44. The pair shared an opening stand of 93, but David Boon, who made 39, was the only other batsman' to make an impact.

Merv Hughes, keen to regain his spot In the Australian

Test team, had figures of 3-33 for Australia A, while spinner Gavin Robertson took 2-27.

Matthew Hayden made a laboured 45 for Australia A and Ricky Ponting contributed 42. while Robertson was stranded nn IQ al

McGrath was backed up by leg-spinner Shane Warne, who had figures of 3-40.

Australia A captain Damien Martyn said his team had wasted their opportunities.

"We should have won." he said. "I'm disappointed we lost, but the guys put in a great effort and I think we gave them ■a real fright."

Australia A will now play England in a day-night match in Melbourne on Tuesday.

England have had a dismal preparation for the game, losing two straight limited-overs matches to an Australian Institute of Sport Cricket Academy team at North Sydney over the weekend.

SCOREBOARD

Scoreboard in Sunday's World" Series limited-overs

cricket match between Australia and Australia A at the Adelaide Oval:

AUSTRALIA:

M Taylor b Robertson 44

M Slater c Hayden b RoweU 64 M Waugh b Hughes 0

D Boon c Langer b Hughes 39 M Bevan c Emery b Robertson 4 S Law b Moody 0

I Healy c Hayden b Relffel 15

S Warne c Langer b Hughes 8

C McDermott not out 10

T May run out 1

0 McGrath c Langer b Relffel 0

Extras: (4-b. 7-lb. 6-w) 17

Total: 202

Fall of wickets: 93; 94; 132; 151; 152; 175: 185: 197;

199; 202.

Bowling: O M R W

Greg RoweU 10 0 41 1

Paul Relffel 9.3 2 34 2

Tom Moody 7 0 36 1

Merv Hughes 9 0 33 3

Damien Martyn 3 0 20 0

Gavin Robertson 10 1 27 .2

AUSTRALIA A

D Lehmann c Healy b McGrath 4

M I layden c Taylor b Law 45

D Martyn b Warne , 37

J Langer c Law b Warne 1

R Ponting c Bevan b Warne 42

T Moody c sub (Fleming) b May 5

P Emery run out 30

G Robertson not out 19

P Relffel lbw McGrath 0

G Rowell c Law b McGrath 0

M Hughes c Law b McGrath 1

Extras: (1-b. 5-lb. 4-w. 2-nb) 12

Total: * 196

Fall of wickets: 10; 71: 77; 108: 117; 157; 190; 190: 190; 196.

Bowling: O M R W

Craig McDermott 9 0 33 0

Glenn McGrath 9.4 0 43 4

Mark Waugh 4 1 17 0

Shane Wame 10 1 40 3

Tim May 10 0 29 1

Stuart Law 5 0 28 1

- Australia won by six runs.

STANDINGS

Standings in the World Series limited-overs cricket tournament after Sunday's match (tabulate under matches played, won, lost, points): Australia 4 4 0 8

Australia A 3 2 14

England 10 1 0

Zimbabwe 4 0 4 0