I was comfortable at the crease and I knew what the wicket was doing so it felt good Sarah Taylor

Sussex batting prodigy Sarah Taylor became the youngest England women's centurion but Australia inflicted the team's fifth successive defeat.

Taylor, 17, in her 10th ODI, struck 101 from 111 balls while Claire Taylor weighed in with a hard-hit 54.

A total of 268-8 was an improvement on recent batting efforts by England, but Australia reached the target with four wickets down and 20 balls remaining.

Lisa Sthalekar's 77 and Melissa Bulow's 52 paved the way for victory.

The result leaves England winless after five matches in the series pitting four nations together.

After her impressive century, Taylor revealed she had adopted a different approach to her innings.

"It was the first time I had gone out to bat with a game plan, so it was a new tactic for me," she said. "I'm a naturally aggressive player, so I generally like to hit out straight away, but today I didn't do that.

"I had manipulated the field early on in the game, so my main innings was hitting the sweepers and running as many singles as possible to get some runs on the board for us.

"After getting myself in and batting well, and still being there after 35 overs, I was looking to still be there at the end of our innings. I was comfortable at the crease and I knew what the wicket was doing so it felt good.

"I'm really pleased to have hit my first international century and it's sweet that it's against the Australians - one of our fiercest rivals.

"But it would have been great if we'd been able to convert our decent batting performance into our first win of the tournament."

England now face group leaders New Zealand in their final qualifying match, but regardless will face either Australia or India again in the third-place play-off.

In Thursday's other match, the New Zealanders secured their place in the final with a comprehensive 91-run victory over hosts India.

Suzie Bates fired her maiden international hundred and shared century stands with Haidee Tiffin and Rebecca Rolls to help post a total of 272-7, and three wickets from Aimee Mason ensured India did not threaten.