England vs Australia, 3rd T20I at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.England vs Australia (ENG vs AUS) 3rd T20 Live Cricket Score Updates: Having already won three-match series, England now have an unassailable 2-0 lead going into the final T20I against Australia on Tuesday at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
England’s Jos Buttler slammed a 54-ball 77 as the hosts knocked down Australia’s 158-run target with ease in the second game of the series, but the matchwinner is set to miss the final clash as he had to leave the bio-bubble to be with his family. Meanwhile, Aaron Finch’s Australia will hope to win the dead-rubber to maintain their top spot in the ICC T20 I Rankings.
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. Quick and effective. 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.
Despite the Malan setback, Bairstow is confidently playing on the frontfoot now. He attacks Agar and he releases all the pressure built on him with a humongous six over long-on. He moves to 39*. Meanwhile, Billings is on 4*. ENG are 69/2 after 10 overs.
BREAKTHROUGH! Adam Zampa joins the attack and he gets his first wicket off his first ball of the innings! He sends Malan back to the pavilion as his wild swing helps the ball land safely in the hands of Stoinis. A brilliant diving catch! ENG are 53/2 after 8.2 overs.
Five singles and one two in the previous over, and that ends the continuous pace attack of Australia. On comes Ashton Agar. Malan (21*) immediately punishes him, after taking a two, with an excellent reverse sweep. Bairstow joins the party too, as the wicketkeeper-opener sends the ball racing away to the third man rope. 13 runs from the over. ENG are 53/1 after 8 overs.
After a quite Richardson over, Bairstow (17*) finds his groove again as he smacks Hazlewood for back-to-back boundaries — one free-hit to fine leg and another to backward square leg after backing off to the on-side. ENG are 33/1 after 6 overs.
Eoin Morgan dislocated his finger while fielding in the previous game but slotted it back in immediately and batted, so he is resting as a precautionary. With no Buttler even, the pressure's on Denly and Billings to perform tonight.
Malan (5*) has joined Bairstow (4*) in the middle, and he doesn't take his due time at all! His third ball of the innings and he smacks Starc for a brilliant boundary to fine leg. That would restore much-needed confidence in England. ENG are 13/1 after 3 overs.
FIRST BLOOD! Hazlewood joins the attack and maintains the same momentum that Starc had built in the last over. He dismisses Banton (2) as the batsman is caught by Wade. Hazlewood's first T20I wicket in four-and-a-half years! ENG are 4/1 after 1.5 overs.
Starc begins brilliantly and puts pressure on Banton, who survives a major LBW shout in the second ball itself. Australia lose a review for it though. Banton takes a single, and Bairstow sees off the ferocious over. ENG are 2/0 after the first over.
Tom Banton and Jonny Bairstow are at the crease. Mitchell Starc will open the attack for Australia.
For Australia, Wade, Marsh and Hazlewood replace Warner, Carey and Cummins.
AUS Playing XI: Aaron Finch(c), Matthew Wade(w), Marcus Stoinis, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Moeen Ali stepped up as captain for England with Eoin Morgan ruled out through injury.
ENG Playing XI: Tom Banton, Jonny Bairstow(w), Dawid Malan, Sam Billings, Moeen Ali(c), Joe Denly, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood
The visitors win toss in the third and final T20I in Southampton. They opt to field first against the hosts, who have already claimed the series. Both sides have made changes for the match with the World No. 1 ranking up for grabs.