It could not have been a better start for hosts England in the 3-match T20I series against arch-rivals Australia as Eoin Morgan and Co..edged the 'Aussies' by the narrowest margins of 2 runs in a thrilling series opener played out at Ageas Oval in Southampton on Friday.
England held their nerves to pull off a nerve-wracking win despite Australia looking in firm control to pull off the 163-run chase needing 30 off the last 21 deliveries.
England held their nerves to pull off a nerve-wracking win despite Australia looking in firm control to pull off the 163-run chase needing 30 off the last 21 deliveries.
Marcus Stoinis who came into the series on the back of a highly successful BBL campaign could have taken Australia across the finishing line with 20-odd runs required off the last two overs but Chris Jordan and Tom Curran bowled extremely well at the death to deny the visitors a realistic chance of going 1-0 up in the series.
Chasing a competitive 163-run target, Australia were in cruise control mode when openers David Warner and Aaron Finch got them off to an absolute flyer. The ever-dependable Finch-Warner opening duo tonked the English bowlers to all corners of the park, stitching a 98-run opening stand in just 11 overs.
Tearaway speedster Jofra Archer struck the opening blow by dismissing Australian skipper Finch for 46 but Steve Smith joined in Warner to keep the chase intact with a quickfire 18 off just 11 deliveries. However, leg spinner Adil Rashid struck a double blow by removing both Smith and the dangerous Glen Maxwell in quick succession.
When Jofra Archer struck a major blow to dismiss the well-settled Warner for 58 and Mark Wood sending Alex Carey back to the pavilion for just 1, Australia suffered a middle-order collapse losing four wickets in the space of just nine deliveries and slumping to 148 for 6.
Earlier in the day, Australia did well to restrict England to 162/7 with makeshift opener Jos Buttler's pyrotechnics up the order and in-form Dawid Malan's well-composed half-century (66).
Earlier in the day, Australia did well to restrict England to 162/7 with makeshift opener Jos Buttler's pyrotechnics up the order and in-form Dawid Malan's well-composed half-century (66).
Seamer Kane Richardson and tweaker Glenn Maxwell helped the Aussies pull back things as they returned with figures of 2/13 and 2/14 respectively from three overs apiece.
The two teams will now lock horns in the second T20 international at the same venue on Sunday.
Brief scores: England 162/7 (Dawid Malan 66, Jos Buttler 44; Glenn Maxwell 2/14) beat Australia 160/6 (David Warner 58, Aaron Finch 46; Adil Rashid 2/29) by two runs