England scored 242 for eight from 50 overs in the first match of the one-day tri-series against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

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After skipper Michael Vaughan won the toss and elected to bat, England slipped to 73-3 before a fourth-wicket stand of 95 between Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood (43) lifted the tourists towards a competitive total.

Pietersen, who looked in pain for the rest of his innings after he was struck in the ribcage by a Glenn McGrath delivery when on 73, holed out to long-on for 82 from 91 balls, including four fours and three sixes.

The South African-born batsman was sent for a scan as soon as he was dismissed and an England spokesman said he would not take the field for the start of Australia's innings.

England lost momentum as Paul Nixon went for a duck and Jamie Dalrymple got a poor decision, adjudged caught behind for two when the ball came off his helmet, but Andrew Flintoff (47 not out) added useful runs at the death.

Nathan Bracken had made the early breakthroughs, dismissing openers Andrew Strauss (12) and Vaughan (26) both caught at first slip by Matthew Hayden.

Mitchell Johnson, playing his 11th one-dayer in the absence of an ill Brett Lee, had Ian Bell (15) caught at cover and took Nixon's scalp while Bracken removed Jon Lewis (9) in the last-gasp run chase to finish with the pick of the figures, 3-46.

New Zealand are the third side involved in the series, with each side playing the others four times before a three-match final.