Aussie Bowlers Rocked the Visitors Early
Hales and Butler started slowly after walking out to bat. The third over of the innings went for three boundaries providing England some momentum. But, they lost their skipper in the next over, and David Malan arrived at the crease. He clarified his intentions by bunting a six and a four in the same over.
However, the joy didn’t last long as Hales also went back to the pavilion in the next over, and England managed just 41 runs in the batting powerplay. The trouble didn’t end for England as Stokes was castled by Zampa and Brook nicked behind to Stoinis.
England were reduced to 58 for 4 in the ninth over, and Maxwell dropped Moeen Ali on the last delivery of the same over.
The two Southpaws to the Rescue
The hosts had little idea what the dropped catch would cost them. Moeen and Malan started to rebuild the innings while scoring at a healthy run rate. The thirteenth over of the innings saw Moeen dispatching Stoinis for a four and a gigantic six. England went past the 100-run mark in the same over.
In the next over, Malan brought up his half-century, and the partnership between him and Moeen went past 50. Then, Starc bowled the sixteenth over of the innings and created two catching opportunities. However, both of them were parried over the boundary by the boundary riders.
Moeen was finally dismissed by Zampa after scoring 46 off just 27 balls. Malan got out in the last over for 82(49), and England ended up with a competitive total of 178 runs on the board. The highlight of the innings was the Moeen–Malan partnership of 92 runs that came in just 8.4 overs.
English Bowlers Were on the Money from the Start
In response, the Aussie openers threw caution to the wind early. The first three overs went for just 12 runs, and Willey got rid of Finch in the fourth over. Warner followed his opening partner to the dugout after attempting an ugly hoick against Topley.
Marsh smoked a boundary and a maximum to lift the spirits, but Maxwell was going nowhere at the other end. He eventually fell to Sam Curran in the eighth over, and the Aussies were struggling at 77 for 3 after completing the first half of their innings.
Stoinis, Marsh, and David Threaten but Curran thrives under Pressure
Stoinis gave them hope with a couple of boundaries and a six, but he too fell to Curran, and the hosts were left with 75 to get off the final seven overs. Mitchell Marsh kept battling at one end, but Stokes removed him in the fifteenth over to put England in the driver’s seat.
With 48 required off the last 24 balls, the Aussie hopes were pinned on Tim David, who threatened England with a whirlwind knock, including five fours and a massive six.
He brought the equation down to 34 off 18, but Curran bowled him around his legs to end his staggering knock of 40(23). Curran conceded just 3 runs in that over, and Topley bowled a fine nineteenth over to give Curran 22 to defend in the final over.
Cummins cracked a six off the first ball to keep their hopes alive. However, Curran was spot on for the rest of the over as England secured an 8-run win. Sam Curran was once again the hero with the ball as he finished with the figures of 25 for 3.
What’s Next?
The two teams will face each other again on Friday at the same venue. The final game of the series will start at 07:10 PM local time.
