PERTH (AP):

James Taylor and Jos Buttler made half-centuries in a 125-run partnership that steered England to a three-wicket win over India yesterday and into the final of cricket's one-day international tri-series.

Stuart Binny took 3-33 to reduce England to 66-5 as it chased India's meagre total of 200, before Taylor (82) and Buttler (67) joined in a sixth-wicket partnership that shored up a shaky innings.

England will face Australia in tomorrow's final on the same WACA ground. The match may also act as a dress rehearsal for their meeting at Melbourne on February 14 to open the Cricket World Cup.

India's winless summer in Australia continued with its defeat, which excluded it from the tournament final and left it with several World Cup-selection riddles to ponder.

Its total of 200 in 48.1 overs, achieved after it lost the toss and was asked to bat, always seemed inadequate and unlikely to test England.

Ajinkya Rahane made a gritty 73 from 101 balls, putting on 83 for the first wicket with Shikhar Dhawan, and holding together the India innings, which unravelled when that opening partnership was broken.

From 83-1, India slumped to 165-9, and only a last-wicket contribution of 35 from Mohammed Shami (25) and Mohit Sharma (7) carried India to 200.

Steve Finn took 3-36, again exploiting a pitch with bounce, while Moeen Ali took 2-35 as conditions also supported spinners.

Chris Woakes took 2-47 and Stuart Broad 2-56.

In England's innings, Ian Bell was out for 10, trapped lbw by a ball from Mohit Sharma, which shot through low after previous deliveries bounced to head height. Ali fell for 17, Joe Root for 3, captain Eoin Morgan for 2, and Ravi Bopara for 4 as England struggled to stave off a totally unexpected defeat.