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| First Twenty20, Ageas Bowl, Southampton |
| England 162-7 (20 overs): Malan 66 (43) Buttler 44 (29); K Richardson 2-13, Maxwell 2-14 |
| Australia 160-6 (20 overs): Warner 58 (47), Finch 46 (32) |
| England won by two races |
| Scorekeeper |
England pulled off a remarkable comeback to beat Australia by two runs in a thrilling first Twenty20 at the Ageas Bowl.
Chasing 163, Australia was sailing to victory, needing just 39 of 38 balls with nine wickets remaining.
But Steve Smith’s wicket, one of two wickets that fell in the end of Adil Rashid, caused a 4-9 collapse in 14 deliveries.
Ashton Agar ran out of the final ball of the penultimate change, leaving the tourists who needed 15 of the last six balls.
Marcus Stoinis hit a six from Tom Curran’s second inning, but still needed five on the final ball. Curran perfectly executed a yorker to see England take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.
England had previously been grateful for 66 from Dawid Malan and 44 from Jos Buttler in their disappointing 162-7.
The second match on the same pitch is on Sunday, live on BBC One from 13:50 BST.
England capitalizes as Australia implodes
England bowling improved significantly from the start of Australia’s innings, but could only claim victory thanks to an implosion of tourists.
Starter David Warner and Aaron Finch ransacked the bowling alley to start. putting 98 when Mark Wood and Jofra Archer pitched too short – batters repeatedly hit four squares with their back foot.
Even when Finch hit Archer at length to fall for 46, Smith looked comfortable. He got his first ball, a 94 mph delivery from Wood, for four.
What followed was extraordinary. Smith edged out Rashid when at 18 and Maxwell hit the last ball of the spinning leg spell to cover more, a mistake that proved crucial.
Warner went for 56 two balls later, thrown by Archer, and in the next, Alex Carey was thrown by a quick delivery from Wood.
The wickets fell and the tracks dried up. There was no limit hit after Smith’s six at 14 until Stoinis’s big hit over extra coverage with five balls remaining.
Stoinis had tried to play himself, backing off to connect the required runs from the end. He cleared the ropes once, but also missed two other deliveries trying to get the ball away. Curran held his ground where the Australian off-roader did not.
This was Australia’s first competitive match in nearly six months due to the coronavirus pandemic, a mitigating factor.
Malan proves his worth again
England’s total didn’t seem like enough midway through, never mind when Warner and Finch were seemingly racing to victory.
Buttler had given England a quick start, seven limits coming on his 29-ball knock, including two in a row from spinner Ashton Agar in one more second than it was for 16 runs.
England were 64-1 when Buttler hit pitcher Adam Zampa in the middle and then had a collapse of his own. Eoin Morgan’s team lost 5-60 when Australia’s crafty bowling, largely spinning and slower balls, proved effective.
Malan, retained at his position at number three, was left to gather a test score for the hosts.
As windows fell around him, he was calm. He batted with relative composure until he launched an attack against Zampa in the 18th over. He hit two sixes, one over midfield and one over long distance, in an over that cost 22 and increased England’s failed tackles.
It was Malan’s eighth score of 50 or more in 14 T20 internationals.
England still have players to return, Jason Roy and Ben Stokes did not participate in this game, but Malan, who made a winning blow in the second T20 against Pakistan, is quickly becoming invincible.
‘Our bowlers bailed us out’ – what they said
England Captain Eoin Morgan: “We didn’t hit particularly well tonight – Dawid and Jos did. We should have gotten more runs.
“Our players bailed us out. The players really did well in the last eight overs. I’m delighted that the guys showed faith and courage to try to take ground. It was great that we held our ground.
“Tom Curran followed a fantastic winter. It’s great to see him calm in the run in the last overs.”
Tom Curran, bowler from England: “That’s why we train. You want to be given the ball in difficult moments and try to stand up when the team needs you. I’m very happy to have stepped over the line.”
“Morgan is incredible. He has been the best captain in the world for several years. He is calm. He supports us. He has class.”
Australia Captain Aaron Finch: “We knew England would keep coming in strong and we probably had trouble finding the cap at that 12-18 mark more. That’s something to work on.
“I would probably be more critical of myself and Davey, who helped us get off to a good start but couldn’t continue to make the contribution to winning the game.”
Dawid Malan Man of the Match: “I don’t know what the secret is, but so far it’s working.
“This white ball team has been the strongest England has ever had. I don’t know where to fit in.”
