Shane Watson has admitted that it was pleasing to record a one-day international series victory over England as both he and Australia ended their tour on a successful note.

The all-rounder smashed 143 as the Aussies posted 299 batting first at the Ageas Bowl, and England fell 49 runs short in their chase to give Michael Clarke's side a 2-1 triumph over the five matches.

Having suffered a 3-0 defeat in the Ashes earlier this summer, Watson has confessed the importance of returning home with victory in the shorter format, and has revealed that the tourists targeted England's thin bowling attack as a way of doing so.

"That was a lot of fun," he told Sky Sports News. I knew how important that was for us to win today and come away with a series win, we haven't had much success on the tour so far so it was nice to finish off the way we did.

"It was a lot more difficult with Boyd Rankin with his bouncer. It was a good challenge, especially early on, but we just had to make the most of their fourth and fifth bowler and try to capitalise on that.

"It's a part in their team we think is one of their weaker parts at this point in time and we want to try to capitalise on that. Even the guys that have come in have been high-quality bowlers and we have to try to score some other way, so that was our plan."

England travel Down Under for the return Ashes series next month, and the first of five Tests in Australia begins at Brisbane on November 21.