England versus Australia 3rd T20I: Australia earn a consolation win
The Australian Cricket Team registered a consolation win in
the 3rd and final T20I match played at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton
on Tuesday. By virtue of this victory, Australia retained their number 1 ranked
T20I side in the world.
Australian captain Aaron Finch won the toss and decided to
field first. It could have been an ideal start for the visitors as Starc almost
got Tom Banton out. The umpire gave it not out and Finch decided to review the
decision but due to an inside edge, the decision was upheld.
Josh Hazlewood coming into the playing XI produced a lovely
delivery to get rid of Tom Banton edging straight to Matthew Wade. Dawid Malan
continued good form in the series with attacking stroke play. On the other
hand, Jonny Bairstow struggled with his timing. At the end of six overs,
England scored just 33 for 1.
After the power play overs, Malan and Bairstow upped the
ante playing attacking strokes against Ashton Agar. Adam Zampa was bought into
the attack and struck immediately getting the wicket of Malan with a good catch
by Stoinis. Malan and Bairstow added 49 runs for the 2nd wicket. Sam
Billings playing his first match was dismissed by Zampa with a superb reflex
catch by Aaron Finch at slips.
Jonny Bairstow took the attack to spinners and completed his
fifty off 41 balls. Ashton Agar soon dismissed Bairstow with a good running
catch by the bowler. Moeen Ali captaining replacing injured Eoin Morgan hit
some lovely shots before being brilliantly caught by Steve Smith at the
boundary.
Joe Denly hit 3 successive boundaries in the 18th
over. Mitchell Starc and Kane Richardson gave away 9 runs in the last 2 overs
to restrict England for a modest total of 145 for 6 in 20 overs.
Chasing 146 runs to win, Matthew Wade and Aaron Finch got
off to a flying start smashing Jofra Archer for 16 runs in the first over. Mark
Wood produced the breakthrough dismissing Wade with a simple catch to Chris
Jordan. Australian captain Finch played with intent and put England bowlers
under pressure. At the end of 6 six overs, the visitors raced away to 61 for 1.
Marcus Stoinis looked positive right from word go. The
England team came back in the game with 3 quick wickets of Marcus Stoinis,
Glenn Maxwell, and captain Aaron Finch. Stoinis and Finch added 39 runs for the
2nd wicket. Adil Rashid kept the hosts in the hunt by taking wickets of
Maxwell, Finch, and Steve Smith.
Mitchell Marsh playing his first match of the tour struggled
initially but dig deep along with Ashton Agar. With 1 run required from 6 balls,
Marsh hit a boundary off the third ball to help Australia win the match by 5
wickets with 3 balls to spare. Marsh and Agar added unbeaten 46 runs for the 6th
wicket.
For his unbeaten 39 off 36 balls, Mitchell Marsh was named
the man of the match award. Jos Buttler was awarded the man of the series for
his 44 and 77*. England won the 3 match T20I series 2-1.
Australia 146 for 5 in 19.3 overs ( Aaron Finch 39, Mitchell
Marsh 39*, Adil Rashid 3/21) beat England 145 for 6 in 20 overs ( Bairstow 55,
Denly 29*, Adam Zampa 2/34) by 5 wickets.
Australia beat England in the 3rd T20I to retain the number 1 ranked side in the shorter format
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