| First Twenty20, Ageas Bowl, Southampton |
| England 162-7 (20 overs): Malan 66 (43) Buttler 44 (29); Ok Richardson 2-13, Maxwell 2-14 |
| Australia 160-6 (20 overs): Warner 58 (47), Finch 46 (32) |
| England win by two runs |
| Scorecard |
England pulled off a remarkable fightback to beat Australia by two runs in an exciting first Twenty20 worldwide on the Ageas Bowl.
Chasing 163, Australia have been cruising to victory – reaching 124-1 after 14 overs following a gap stand of 98 between David Warner and Aaron Finch.
However the wicket of Steve Smith, one in every of two wickets to fall in Adil Rashid’s remaining over, sparked a collapse of 4-9 in 14 deliveries.
Ashton Agar was run out from the ultimate ball of the penultimate over leaving the vacationers needing 15 from the ultimate six balls.
Marcus Stoinis hit a six from the second ball of Tom Curran’s over however nonetheless wanted 5 from the ultimate ball. Curran completely executed a yorker to see England take a 1-Zero lead within the three-match sequence.
The second match is on Sunday – reside on BBC One from 13:50 BST.
England capitalise as Australia implode
England’s bowling improved considerably from the start of the Australia innings however they have been solely in a position to take victory thanks to an implosion by the vacationers.
Warner and Finch plundered the bowling to start with as Mark Wooden and Jofra Archer bowled too quick – the batsmen repeatedly hitting fours sq. off the again foot.
Even when Finch hit Archer to long-off for 46, Smith seemed snug. He pulled his first ball – a 94mph supply from Wooden – for 4.
What adopted was remarkable. Smith top-edged a sweep off Rashid when on 18 and Maxwell hit the ultimate ball of the leg spinner’s spell to further cowl – a tactical error which proved essential.
Warner departed for 56 two balls later – bowled off his pads by Archer – and within the following over Alex Carey was additionally bowled by a quick supply from Wooden.
The wickets fell and runs dried up. There was not a boundary hit after a Smith six within the 14th over till Stoinis’ huge hit over further cowl with 5 balls left.
Stoinis tried to play himself in, backing himself to hit the required runs from the ultimate over. He cleared the ropes as soon as but in addition missed two different deliveries attempting to energy the ball away. Curran held his nerve the place the Australia all-rounder didn’t.
Extra to comply with
