In a 50 overs-a-side game divided into quarters with each side batting in turn for 25 overs, Western Australia made 248 for five. England was bowled out for 197 in 45.5 overs.
The touring side was always struggling after mustering only 83 for four in the first half of its innings. Western Australia had made 90 for one from its opening 25 overs.
Set 166 from their final 25 overs, England were unable to lift the tempo sufficiently against some accurate bowling and keen fielding.
Western Australia captain Damien Martyn made the touring team pay for giving him two "lives". He made a sparkling 51 off just 67 balls, putting on 91 for the second wicket with Mark Lavender.
When Martyn fell in the second over after the innings resumed the tempo was increased as Bradley Hogg and Lavender added 83 in 13 overs.
Lavender made 83 off 125 balls with eight fours before he skied Devon Malcolm to Mike Atherton at mid-on. Mike Valetta (35) and Adam Gilchrist (17) then added 31 from the last four overs.
Malcolm and Craig White each took two wickets but England's cause was not helped by their missing five catches of varying degrees of difficulty.
England's task in the final quarter was always going to be an uphill climb after they lost John Crawley (1), Graeme Hick (27), Mike Gatting (7) and Atherton (28) in the first part of their innings.
White and Graham Thorpe, who both made 35, did their best to lift England's spirits but they were clearly chasing a lost cause.Before the game, England coach Keith Fletcher was skeptical about the experimental format.
"We are doing it totally for Western Australia. We got faxes and phone calls and we were quite happy to go along with it," Fletcher said Wednesday. "But I don't think it's going to work. I think the public expects you to win the toss, bat for 50 overs and the other side to follow you.
"If one side is 50 for five and the others score 150 from their first 25 overs, the public might as well go home."
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HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwe's bowlers restricted a Sri Lankan side containing seven left-handers to 248 for four on the opening day's play in the third and final cricket test.
Half-centuries from Hashan Tillekeratne, who was unbeaten at the close on 63, and opener Asanka Gurusinha gave the Sri Lankans some momentum on a slow pitch after they had won the toss.
But several of the Sri Lankans were guilty of getting out when well set.
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