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One of my favorite nerdy things is to take a regular look at Jos Buttler’s numbers opening the batting for England in this format. Revel in this: 1,299 runs @ 48.11, at 153.36. 68 off just 32 balls for him today – the perfect comeback after a couple of months on the sidelines.
I imagine there will be some talk about this moment over the next couple of days:
England win by eight runs
A fantastic finish from Sam Curran, who cleans up at the end adding Nathan Ellis to his collection – the slower ball is faced and bowled by the tailender. This has ended up being a cracking game, with Warner, Stoinis and Wade giving England a real scare.
WICKET! Wade c Stokes b Curran 21 (Australia 197-8)
Wade takes the first ball for four! The perfect start for Australia. Curran runs out the next delivery and looks to be in the slot but can’t get it out. Point. Follows a shot from Wade but finds Stokes in the deep!
19th over: Australia 193-7 (Wade 17, Ellis 0) 16 needed from the end to six seeds.
WICKET! Sams c Brook b Topley 6 (Australia 193-7)
After two singles form the first three balls, Australia get a precious boundary – Sams waits with a slower ball, switching to the off side to take the ball over fine leg for four. But Sams is gone next ball! He gets some serious meat with a direct hit, but Harry Brook holds both the nerve and the ball to slot it home.
18th over: Australia 187-6 (Sams 1, Wade 16) Curran fires a yorker that Wade can barely get away with. Australia still looking for the single as Curran runs to try and flick the ball onto the stumps…and misses the wicket! He had time to pick it up and remove the stumps. Final ball of the over is good for Australia as Curran’s full toss is helped over the fine rope by Wade. You need 22 of 12.
WICKET! Warner c Hales b Wood 73 (Australia 173-6)
oh my what happened there Fire wood in an electric bouncer and the ball flies straight into the air. Wood runs at him, so does Buttler, and Wade decides not to run, so he is caught between Wood and the stumps as the ball falls. Replays show the batter sticking his arm out to block Wood … but the game continues.
England does have a port to celebrate! Warner cuts the final ball of the over into the hands of deep point. Another great set from Wood.
17th over: Australia 173-6 (Wade 3, Sams 0)
16th over: Australia (Warner 72, Wade 0) Moeen is bowled away from the two left-handers. But Warner turns to a right-hander, hitting the second ball for four! Too short from Moeen with his fourth ball and Warner pulls it to square leg for another boundary. Australia need 40 from 24 balls.
WICKET! David c Hales b Wood 0 (Australia 158-5)
Tim David’s colossal structure emerges. He can’t get away with the first couple of deliveries from Wood and then goes to Alex Hales at backward square. What a finish from England!
15th over: Australia 158-5 (Warner 61, Wade 0)
WICKET! Stoinis c Malan b Wood 35 (Australia 158-4)
Wood comes back in and Stoinis takes his first ball for a six! He is seeing them so, so well. And as I write… he’s out! Wood falls short, Stoinis tries to hit it outside off but the edge flies high and Dawid Malan does well to hold outside the ring at cover. I play crack, though.
14th over: Australia 152-3 (Stoinis 29, Warner 61) Top shot from Stoinis. Space is given to lift the ball over short third man off the bowling of Topley. A deflection off the last ball gives Warner another chance and he steals four with a hit over extra cover. Australia need 57 from 36 balls.
13th over: Australia 138-3 (Warner 55, Stoinis 23) Stoinis limps off after a throw at the non-striking end breaks his right foot. This gives everyone time for a little breather. Stoinis’ first ball after this hit goes for a six; back to Rashid’s googly and smashes the ball over the deep end. Another six closes the over as Stoinis gets down on his knee to nail the sweep.
12th over: Australia 122-3 (Stoinis 9, Warner 53) Stoinis takes his first four of the innings – it’s a good late cut that goes past short third man. Stokes follows up with a bouncer, but it’s too high, forcing the umpire to signal a deflection. Three singles follow to close out the end. Australia need 87 from 48.
11th over: Australia 111-3 (Warner 51, Stoinis 1) Now it’s Warner’s turn to get this win for Australia. He brings up his half-century, his second of the week, with a boundary from Rashid.
WICKET! Finch finished with Curran 12 (Australia 105-3)
Rashid spins again, and Finch looks it right from the second legitimate ball of the over – tossed up, full and the skipper goes straight for a six. There’s a push for the next ball and it looks tight as Buttler pulls the stumps at the wicketkeeper’s end… and Finch is gone! The pinch didn’t save him after Curran’s excellent throw from the outside end.
10th over: England 96-2 (Warner 45, Finch 5) Stokes is bowled. He bounces off a wide first ball to restrict the Aussies to a singles over. Australia need 113 from 60 balls.
9th over: Australia 89-2 (Finch 2, Warner 42) So Warner and Finch, usually together at the top, find themselves in the middle in the ninth over. There is a lot of work ahead.
WICKET! Marsh b Rashid 36 (Australia 86-2)
Rashid is in and Warner effortlessly bowls a fuller ball down the ground for six. what a welcome A single brings Marsh on strike…and it’s hooked! It’s a googly from the leg-spinner and Marsh makes no connection with the cut attempt.
8th over: Australia 79-1 (Warner 34, Marsh 36) Curran is playing with his pace, changing lengths, and is doing a job. Mitch Marsh almost has four extra covers from the final ball of the over but Harry Brook makes a strong diving save. Only six are running.
7th over: Australia 73-1 (Warner 32, Marsh 33) Marsh hits the mark again! This time it’s a ball from Wood at 92mph, with the ball taking an age in the air before crossing the rope. Australia like that bit of extra pace right now.
6th over: Australia 62-1 (Warner 30, Marsh 26) Slower ball on the surface from Sam Curran and Marsh pulls for four more. Warner and Marsh run hard to pick up 10. A very decent Powerplay for Australia.
5th over: Australia 52-1 (Marsh 17, Warner 30) Big man vs big man: Marsh gets on Topley’s menacing bounce, hitting the second ball of the set for four. From the penultimate ball of the over, Topley walks into the wicket and this time Marsh pulls for four through square leg.
4th over: Australia 41-1 (Marsh 8, Warner 29) Mark Wood runs to launch his rockets and lands his first at 92 mph. Marsh tries to bowl him the next ball, but fails to get the desired connection, taking just one to fine leg. Warner uses the pace well, smashing the first ball he faces from Wood over point for four. And then again! Wood goes from cover this time, and Warner crosses the ball through the covers. Make these three boundaries on the trot: Wood falls short and Warner makes four more.
3rd over: Australia 28-1 (Marsh 7, Warner 17) Impressive from Marsh as he hits Woakes for six behind square on the leg side.
2nd over: Australia 20-1 (Warner 16, Marsh 1) First out from Topley. That’s Mitch Marsh at No.3 for Australia, by the way.
WICKET! Green c Buttler b Topley 1 (Australia 15-1)
Topley runs in and there is definitely a sound as the ball goes past Green’s inside edge on its way to Buttler. The finger doesn’t go up but Buttler checks immediately and Hot Spot shows a mark. The big man is on his way.
1st: Australia 14-0 (Green 1, Warner 13) Over the top for six! Warner shuffles the crease and takes a crazy shot that flies high and far behind the keeper’s head. From the next ball, he moves to mid four. A good start for Australia.
Interesting from Australia. Cameron Green opens with David Warner, which means Aaron Finch drops down the order, just as he did against the West Indies earlier this week.
Australia need 209 to win in 20 overs
A total monster from England. They looked as if they were going to get even bigger at one point, with Hales and Buttler whipping it all over the place. But Australia struggled with regular wickets at the bottom, Nathan Ellis their star bowler with 3-20 from his four overs. Still, the hosts will need to give him the right shot from the off if they want to chase them down.
20th over: England 208-6 (Woakes 13, Malan 2) England reach 200 thanks to Chris Woakes, who pumps Richardson for four outside off. And then a huge six off the penultimate ball! It’s a swing through the line from Woakes and the sound of the bat is unreal. England close with a single, taking them to 208-6.
WICKET! Moeen c Marsh b Ellis 10 (England 194-6)
Ellis ends a brilliant performance with another wicket. He digs his slower ball into the surface and Moeen’s top cut can only fly to Marsh at short third man. 3-20 from four overs for Australia’s quicks.
19th over: England 194-6 (Malan 1, Woakes 0)
WICKET! Curran b Ellis 2 (England 193-5)
Ellis is full and upright; Curran tries to go for a ramp but misses. Ellis strikes.