Ricky Ponting [ Images ] said that his Australia [ Images ] side had flirted with perfection in crushing England [ Images ] on Tuesday to clinch their one-day series 2-1, adding that it would boost his squad's confidence before the Ashes series.

"That was very satisfying," Ponting told a news conference after the world champions won by eight wickets at The Oval.

"It was the result of a lot of hard work, a lot of talking about where we were going wrong. That's as close as a perfect game for us.

"I couldn't be happier what we have done in the last couple of days.

"It's only one-day cricket but it will give us a bit of confidence. It gives you a nice feeling around the place."

Australia restricted England to 228 for seven before racing to victory with 15.1 overs to spare, with Adam Gilchrist [ Images ] scoring 121 not out, his 11th one-day century, at faster than a run a ball.

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"I haven't often been there at the end of a run chase," Gilchrist said. "I'm not usually there after 15 overs. It was my first one-day hundred for a couple of years and my first one in England."

England captain Michael Vaughan [ Images ], whose side won the first one-dayer at Headingley before being outclassed in the next two, again downplayed the importance of the one-dayers before next week's first Test at Lord's.

"When we won at Headingley everybody said the momentum was with England but I didn't believe that and I don't believe it is with Australia now. It's just important that we hit July 21st really hard. That's the biggest challenge of the summer."

Kevin Pietersen [ Images ], vying for the England number five Test batting spot with Graham Thorpe, was England's top scorer on Tuesday with 74. "I think he has given the selectors a real big headache," Vaughan added.