England vs Australia, 3rd T20I at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.England vs Australia 3rd T20I Highlights: Australia managed to eke out a consolation win in the final T20I against England on Tuesday at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton as they defeated the hosts by five wickets.
After Australia sent England out to bat, Jonny Bairstow’s 55-run knock guided the hosts to a decent 145/6 at the end of the 20 overs. The visitors got off to a blistering start, owing to Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis, but Adil Rashid turned the tide in the middle overs with three wickets. In the end, Mitchell Marsh’s unbeaten 39 got Australia over the line as they chased down 146 with three balls remaining.
Australia in England, 3 T20I Series, 2020The Rose Bowl, Southampton 09 September 2020
England 145/6 (20.0)
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Despite Curran and Jordan's attempts to control the match, they have failed to restrict Australia from reaching the target of 146. Mitchell Marsh (39*) played a match-winning knock towards the end of the innings and guided his team to 146/5 in 19.3 overs. Australia lose the series but they maintain their top spot in the ICC T20I Rankings. The ODI series awaits now!
Although Australia have not hit any boundaries in the last two overs, they don't need to now. After Marsh's blitzkrieg, both him and Agar deal efficiently in singles and twos. Nine runs needed from 12 balls now. AUS are 137/5 after 18 overs.
Has Mitchell Marsh changed the fortunes of Australia? He didn't waste any bit of a short delivery by Wood and lifts it up for a maximum and then follows it up with a crunching square drive. They just need 20 more runs. AUS are 126/5 after 16 overs.
Marsh and Agar are finding it hard to find a crack in England's bowling and confidence now. AUS are 112/5 after 15 overs.
WHAT A TURNAROUND! England have taken complete control of the match as Rashid bags the third of his night with another important — Steve Smith. Rashid forces a leading edge and he pouches it diving forward. AUS are 100/5 after 13 overs.
Two in the over for Rashid as the England spinner castles Finch (39) with a superb googly. Advantage to England now. What an over though — three runs and two wickets. Potentially game changing? All eyes on Smith and Marsh now. AUS are 89/4 after 11 overs.
The boundaries had dried up, the pressure was mounting on Australia and they have finally caved in! Rashid gets the wicket of the dangerous Maxwell and sends him back for 6. England in the front seat now. AUS are 86/3 after 10.2 overs.
BREAKTHROUGH! The dangerous Stoinis is sent back to the pavilion by Tom Curran off his first ball of the innings. Stoinis miscues, but Banton holds on. The batsman departs for 26. On comes Maxwell. AUS are 71/2 after 7.1 overs.
Australia slowed down a bit, but only by a bit mind you. Because Stoinis (24*) has taken the responsibility on himself to guide Australia to an early win. Two boundaries in the last over and he adds to that again — two fours against the wicket-taking Wood. He's showing very small margins for error in this format and it's a treat to watch so far. Finch (22*) adds some more pain to the hosts as he ends the over with another four. The visitors need 85 runs from 84 balls. AUS are 61/1 after 6 overs.
Australia got off to a brilliant start in their opening three overs, but now it's time for England to shine. Mark Wood breaks the important growing partnership as he removes Wade for 14. On comes Stoinis to partner his captain. AUS are 31/1 after 3.1 overs.
Aaron Finch (5*) and Matthew Wade (11*) open the innings for Australia, and they are off to a bright start with both of them smacking Jofra Archer for two boundaries. Wade seals the over with a maximum. What a start! AUS are 16/0 after the first over.
After just five runs in the last over, into the final over now! Richardson starts it off with a bang as he removes Jordan for 4. Off the next ball, Denly (29*) takes a single and give the strike to Curran (2*), who reciprocates his partner. England end the innings with three more singles, failing to hit a boundary in their last 14 balls. England end their innings on 145/6 after 20 overs.
No Morgan, no Buttler? No problem. Denly (25*) has assumed the charge for England as he smacks Richardson for three consecutive boundaries. England are aiming for a total above 150 now. Chris Jordan's on 1*. ENG are 136/5 after 18 overs.
Starc comes back and he reaps the results! Moeen Ali (23*) looked set to finish the innings after assuming charge of the affairs but the England captain is sent back after he is caught by Smith right on the edge of the boundary rope. ENG are 120/5 after 17 overs.
HUGE! Moeen Ali (18*) ended the last over with a cheeky four off an inside edge, but now he proves his authority with the bat. He smashes Zampa down the wicket, over everybody's heads for a six. Denly (5*) hits a boundary too. ENG are 110/4 after 15 overs.
RELIEF! Agar runs a long way to celebrate his wicket! The spinner caught and bowled the dangerous Bairstow and removes him from the pitch for 55. After going for runs, Agar has finally made his mark with an important wicket. ENG are 94/4 after 13.3 overs.
England have stumbled a bit here and there, but the captain has provided some sensible support to the in-form Bairstow (54*). Moeen Ali (7*) struck a four in the last over, and now he does well against Zampa — keeps rotating the strike. Bairstow takes the lead and he reaches his fifth T20I half-century in 41 balls with a massive six over straight boundary. ENG are 92/3 after 13 overs.
Now Zampa gets the Bairstow treatment. First ball of the over, and the opener slog sweeps it high in the sky after getting on his knee. But Australia exact revenge on England as Zampa bags his second and dismisses Billings (4). ENG are 76/3 after 10.3 overs.