England’s white-ball refresh received off to a false begin as Travis Head’s buccaneering half-century helped Australia to a 28-run victory within the first T20.
Looking for to attract a line underneath an uninspiring T20 World Cup, England have been taking part in catch up after 59 off 23 balls from Head, who whacked Sam Curran for 30 in an over and thumped 12 boundaries in complete.
Liam Livingstone took three wickets after Adil Rashid had utilized the brakes, conceding one boundary in his 4-0-23-1, with the quicks then discovering their traces and lengths as Australia stumbled from 86 for one on the finish of the powerplay to 179 all out in 19.3 overs.
A Bridge Too Far
After the hosts slumped to 52 for 4 within the chase, Livingstone briefly sparkled with the bat however his departure for 37 off 27 balls ended any hope of England drawing first blood on this three-match sequence.
They have been finally skittled for 151 with 4 balls unused and, on this proof, Brendon McCullum taking the reins within the new yr to unify the teaching roles can not come shortly sufficient.
Australia, with out the retired David Warner and a number of other of their rested multi-format stars, proved too sturdy for an England aspect with three debutants in Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell and Jamie Overton.
Not one of the trio made a lot of an affect on the Utilita Bowl, the place greater than 1,000 photo voltaic panels have been turned on for the primary time in Hampshire’s bid to grow to be the world’s greenest cricket stadium.
Prompt Assault
It was Head who supplied the ability, although, after Matthew Brief had flicked Reece Topley off his pads for back-to-back sixes.
Head received off the mark with a vanguard by way of a vacant backward level and was overwhelmed thrice in an over by Archer, albeit the world’s top-ranked batter dispatched the opposite three deliveries for 4.
After overturning being given out caught behind on 15, Head went full throttle, flaying every supply in Curran’s wayward first over to the boundary, with three sixes together with a luxurious carve over deep level.
Saqib Mahmood additionally went the gap as Head introduced up a 19-ball fifty earlier than one swing too many caught the top-edge. Australia have been nonetheless within the ascendancy, although, as England turned to their trump card in Rashid, who stymied the scoring as he so typically does and knocked again Mitch Marsh’s off-stump in addition.
Unwilling to be too adventurous towards the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler, Brief perished for 41 attempting to tackle Livingstone, who had Marcus Stoinis and Tim David lbw on the sweep off consecutive balls. Each have been pinned on the entrance pad and given not out however England’s critiques have been profitable.
Whereas Livingstone nonetheless had one over to bowl, stand-in captain Phil Salt was justified in returning to tempo regardless of their earlier shellacking as Curran rebounded from his battering by Head to fortress Josh Inglis, who missed an injudicious reverse scoop trying to up the ante to depart for 37.
The wheels fell off for Australia thereafter as Archer’s pinpoint yorkers cleaned up Sean Abbott and Xavier Bartlett, whereas Mahmood did likewise for Cameron Inexperienced for a staff hat-trick.
Batting Mishaps
Salt was caught off a no-ball on the outset of England’s reply however Will Jacks was not so fortunate, snared by the metronomic Josh Hazlewood, handed match after lacking Australia’s latest 3-0 win over Scotland.
Salt, standing in as skipper and wicketkeeper for the injured Jos Buttler, took 4 fours in Hazlewood’s subsequent over however two have been by way of streaky inside edges and he holed out off Sean Abbott for 20 after Cox launched into the night time sky just for David to take a improbable operating catch.
After Adam Zampa skidded by way of Bethell’s defences, England have been 68 for 4 on the midway stage and caught in quicksand.
Livingstone was hit within the helmet by Stoinis however cracked two fours in-between a heave for England’s first six within the all-rounder’s subsequent over to present the hosts fleeting hope.
However when Curran miscued Abbott to backward square-leg and Livingstone under-edged Hazlewood on to his stumps within the subsequent over, England’s bid for victory was all however ended. Zampa strangled England with two for 20, whereas Abbott completed with three wickets as Australia closed out a snug win.
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