Australia wrapped up their tour of England with a commanding eight-wicket victory in the fifth and final one-day international as a thrilling series ended in tepid fashion.
Having lost the first two contests, England fought back to draw level at 2-2 with victories at Old Trafford and Headingley to set up a winner-takes-all contest on Sunday.
However, the sense of anticipation on the teams' return to Manchester was soon punctured as the hosts slumped to 138 all out, having seen captain Eoin Morgan - whose 92 in Leeds helped level the series - suffer concussion after being struck on the side of the helmet by a short delivery from Mitchell Starc (1-44).
Mitchell Marsh (4-27) and John Hastings (3-21) were the chief tormentors with the ball as England crumbled, Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid offering the only resistance with 42 and 35 not out respectively.
The big-hitting Aaron Finch (70 not out) and George Bailey (41no) then combined for a brilliant century partnership as the tourists salvaged some pride with a 3-2 series victory, having lost by the same score in the Ashes.
England's international summer may have finished on a sour note, but they can take heart from taking the world champions to a decider following a dismal World Cup earlier this year.
Jason Roy (4) - having already overturned an lbw decision on review - fell to Starc in the first over, with replays suggesting the ball was missing leg stump.
Alex Hales' (4) miserable series continued when his poorly timed drive off Hastings was juggled and snared by Glenn Maxwell and the same bowler soon tempted James Taylor (12) to feather one behind.
Things worsened for England, who handed a debut to Reece Topley, when influential skipper Morgan required treatment after being struck by Starc's short ball and duly retired hurt.
Jonny Bairstow (10) came in to partner Stokes, and the latter showed his attacking intent when he drove Starc down the ground for four before giving Pat Cummins (0-33) the same treatment.
However, a partnership of 34 ended when Bairstow became the first victim of Marsh, who was subsequently named the man of the series.
The all-rounder then snared Moeen Ali (5) and David Willey (0) in the space of three balls before having Stokes, who had pummelled Marsh for six three balls earlier, lbw.
Rashid found the boundary five times to give a hint of respectability to England's score and spark some life into a becalmed Manchester crowd, but Australia soon wrapped up the tail.
There was a glimmer of hope for England when Willey (1-13) struck early to send Joe Burns back for a duck, while skipper Steve Smith (12) edged Mark Wood (1-5) behind in the last over before lunch.
Finch and Bailey were in no immediate hurry after the restart, but England's introduction of spin duo Moeen (0-25) and Rashid (0-34) - so influential in Tuesday's win - proved the catalyst for the batsmen to up the ante.
Boundaries began to flow with regularity as the pair accelerated from 2-41 off 12 overs to 2-84 by the end of the 15th.
Finch celebrated a deserved half-century when he swept Moeen's delivery through backward point and Bailey hit the winning runs with a four off the off-spinner in the 24th over.