ENG vs AUS 1st T20 highlights: England wins by 2 runs in last ball thriller
Australia was cruising at 124-2 in 15th over but lost wickets at regular intervals and failed to chase down a 163-run target despite Warner's fifty
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Australia had a great start to their chase and looked on track to register a comprehensive victory, thanks to Aaron Finch and David Warner's early dominance, with the pair adding 98 runs in 11 overs.Photo: @ICC
A late fightback from the bowlers helped England beat Australia by two runs in the first T20 International of the three-match series at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
Chasing 163, Australia at one stage needed just 39 runs from the last six overs with nine wickets in hand to take a 1-0 lead in the series on Friday. However, they ended up on 160/6 and lost the game which was in their grasp for the majority of duration.
Check Eng vs Aus 2nd T20I live score, toss and weather updates here
Earlier, Australia restricted England to 162/7, despite Jos Buttler's early fireworks and Dawid Malan's well-composed 66. For the visitors, it was Kane Richardson and Glenn Maxwell who provided control as they returned with figures of 2/13 and 2/14 respectively from three overs apiece.
Left-arm spinner Aston Agar, who was taken for 16 by Buttler in his first over, also bounced back and returned with figures of 2/32 in his four overs.
Other than Buttler and Malan, only Chris Jordan got to double figures, hitting 14* from 8 balls in a late cameo.
Australia had a great start to their chase and looked on track to register a comprehensive victory, thanks to Aaron Finch and David Warner's early dominance, with the pair adding 98 runs in 11 overs before the Australia captain lost his wicket after scoring 46 runs.
Steve Smith, who came in next, looked fluent as he scored 18 from 11 balls, but Adil Rashid had him caught sweeping and he then dismissed Maxwell four balls later as England fought back.
Warner (58) and Alex Carey also went back to the pavilion in quick succession as Australia lost four wickets for nine runs, with the visitors still needing 30 from 21 balls.
Australia needed 15 from the final over but Tom Curran kept his cool and didn't allow Marcus Stoinis to take his team across the line.
England vs Australia 1st T20 video highlights
Check England vs Australia full scorecard here
WATCH: What last over hero Tom Curran said
Man of the match: Dawid Malan
WATCH: Eng vs Aus 1st T20 highlights, last over thriller
Here's what Eoin Morgan said after the match
Here's what Aaron Finch said after the match
WATCH: Dawid Malan's fifty
WATCH: When Archer cleaned up Warner
England wins by 2 runs
Over 20; Australia: 160-6
Tom Curran continues
Ball 6: A low full toss and Stoinis muscles it towards long-on for a couple of runs.
Over 19, Eng vs Aus live score: 148-6; Australia needs 15 runs in 6 balls
Chris Jordan [2.0-0-19-0] is back into the attack
Over 18, Eng vs Aus live score: 144-5; Australia need 19 runs in 12 balls
Tom Curran [2.0-0-14-0] is back into the attack
Over 17, Eng vs Aus live score: 137-5; Wood scalps Carey
Mark Wood [3.0-0-28-0] is back into the attack
Ashton Agar, left handed bat, comes to the crease
Over 16, Eng vs Aus live score: 133-4; Archer gets Warner
Jofra Archer [3.0-0-27-1] is back into the attack
Ball 3: Archer beats Stoinis outside off.
Alex Carey, left handed bat, comes to the crease
Marcus Stoinis, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Over 15, Eng vs Aus live score: 127-3; Rashid gets Smith, Maxwell
Rashid continues...
Glenn Maxwell, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Over 14, Eng vs Aus live score: 124-1
Moeen Ali, right-arm off break, comes into the attack
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First Published: Sep 04 2020 | 8:00 PM IST