Chasing Australia A's modest 205 for nine, England looked on course to bounce back strongly from Friday's emphatic eight-wicket defeat by New South Wales at 110 for three with 23 overs remaining.

But the loss of captain Nasser Hussain, trapped leg before trying to sweep spinner Brad Hogg, sparked another collapse with England losing by 23 runs after being dismissed for 182.

Sunday's demise follows just two days after the tourists lost five wickets for 18 runs on Friday and leaves them with just one more match, Tuesday's day game against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra, to improve their fortunes before next Friday's opening match of the triangular tournament against Australia in Sydney.

Fielding a side with four changes from Friday's line-up, they showed great discipline in the field with all-rounder Ronnie Irani claiming an impressive three for 30 and Ian Blackwell grabbing an economical one for 24 from his 10 overs.

Only captain Justin Langer, who top-scored with 62 from 103 balls, passed 50 for the A team although Mike Hussey contributed a useful unbeaten 44 from 47 balls at the finale to the innings without hitting a single boundary.

Their total looked around 20 to 30 runs short of a competitive total on a slow pitch, but as England began their reply looking to record their first victory since their arrival in Australia 61 days ago, it soon became clear that it was a more challenging target than it seemed.

England's reply began badly with Craig White, promoted to the role as pinch-hitter while Marcus Trescothick rested, being run out in the second over after a mix-up with Nick Knight attempting a quick single.

Once again Irani spearheaded their counter-attack by hitting 38 off 28 balls before falling to the first delivery from Ashley Noffke, who trapped him leg before attempting another drive over the top, after he had forged a 56-run partnership with Nick Knight spanning nine overs.

Noffke struck again in his next over to capture Knight's scalp, caught behind attempting to slash a short delivery, but Hussain and Owais Shah forged a 38-run partnership which appeared to have put England on course for victory.

As soon as Hussain fell, though, the belief dwindled in England's line-up and just like two days earlier, the middle order folded under the pressure of maintaining the run-rate necessary to triumph.

Shah perished edging behind trying to pull seamer Brad Williams for a spirited 25, Ian Blackwell became England's second run out victim, Robert Key was caught in the deep and Andrew Flintoff edged behind trying to drive.

Even a determined ninth-wicket partnership of 23, of which Kabir Ali contributed 16 in his stand with Alec Stewart, could not halt the slide as England lost seven wickets for 72 runs.