Butler and Hales Were at their Fluent Best
Jos Butler showed no signs of a lack of match practice on his return, starting with a 16-run over against Cam Green. An ordinary start with the ball was backed up by three good overs, as only 19 runs were conceded in them. However, Richardson was plundered away for 15 runs in the fifth over, and England ended the powerplay at 58 for 0.
Swepson was introduced into the attack straight after the powerplay. England’s captain greeted him with a couple of mighty blows that went into the crowd. Stoinis bore the brunt of the beating as Hales went 4,6, 6 on the first three balls of the next over.
Butler brought up his 25-ball half-century in the ninth over as England raced past the 100-run mark. His opening partner followed him with a 29-ball 50 as England looked set for a huge first innings score. At the halfway stage, they were 118 for 0.
Australia Fought Back After Openers Depart
Nathan Ellis provided Australia with a much-needed breakthrough as Jos Butler was finally dismissed for 68(32). Stokes was sent ahead of Malan but struggled to find any timing. However, Hales kept England afloat with his range and power.
But, both fell in quick succession – Hales for 83(51) and Stokes for 9(9). It gave the hosts a golden opportunity to claw their way back into the game. England struggled to find the fence as Brook departed in the 18th over, leaving his team at 183 for 4 with 16 balls left in their innings.
Amid all the carnage, Ellis returned with brilliant figures of 3 for 20. England managed to finish with 208 for 6 in 20 overs – thanks to Woakes’ breezy cameo of 13*(5). After Hales’ dismissal, the visitors could accumulate only 41 runs off the last 28 deliveries.
Warner Started the Chase With a Flurry of Boundaries
In pursuit of a hefty chase, Topley sent Green back with a nip-backer in the second over. On the other end, Warner was in complete control as he smashed Mark Wood for three consecutive boundaries. His 30* off 13 enabled his team to reach 62 for 1 in 6 overs.
Mitchell Marsh joined the act by hitting a few crisp boundaries. But, his stay was cut short by a Rash’s wrong un that clattered his stumps. The breakthrough allowed England to tighten the screws as the Aussies were left with 113 to get in the last ten overs. Finch ran himself out, and Warner got to his half-century as the Aussie hopes to chase down the total hinged on him.
Stoinis Blitz Overshadowed by Wood’s and Curran’s Heroics
Stoinis arrived at the crease and tried to dominate from ball one. His destructive knock of 35(15) suggested that Australia were running away with the game. But, Wood struck twice in the 15th over to remove Stoinis and Tim David to tilt the game back in England’s favour.
More crucially, he produced the killer blow by ending Warner’s spirited knock – 73 of 44 – on the last ball of his spell. With 36 runs needed off the last 18 deliveries, Sam Curran went for 14 in the eighteenth over.
Topley took the ball and bowled a sensational 6-run nineteenth over. Butler trusted Curran over Woakes to defend 16 in the final over. Wade hammered a boundary on the first ball, but Curran returned with a dot.
Then, Wade holed out at deep mid-wicket to Stokes, and England were in touching distance with the victory. Curran executed his plans well to see his team seal the game by a close 8-run margin.
What’s Coming Up Next?
Both the teams will now go head to head in the 2nd T20I in Canberra. The game will be played on Wednesday, the 12th of October.
