Sam Curran's Picks 3-Fer As England Beat Australia By 8 Runs; Build Unassailable 2-0 Lead In 3-Match Series

With this win, England have sealed the 3-match series against Australia 2-0 with the last T20I yet to be played.

Cricket Image for Sam Curran's Picks 3-Fer As England Beat Australia By 8 Runs; Build Unassailable 2 (Image Source: AFP)

AUS vs ENG: After an impressive batting performance by Dawid Malan, Sam Curran followed up with a 3-fer as England halted Australia to 170/6 in 20 overs, winning the match by 8 runs. With this win, England have sealed the 3-match series 2-0 with the last T20I yet to be played. 

Australia lost captain & opener Aaron Finch (4) in the 4th over, followed by David Warner (4) in the 5th over. Glenn Maxwell (8) was also dismissed cheaply in the 8th over as English bowlers ripped through the Australian batting. 

Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis then etched a partnership of 40 runs for the 4th wicket. Stoinis was dismissed after scoring 22 runs off 13 balls (4x2, 6x1) before getting dismissed by Sam Curran. Mitchell Marsh remained the top scorer with 45 runs off 29 balls with 3 fours & 2 sixes. 

Tim David at the end looked to close the match for Australia but was dismissed in the 18th over after smashing 40 runs off 23 balls with 5 fours & a six. Chasing 179 to save the series, in the end, Australia felt short by 8 runs. For England, Sam Curran was the star with 3 wickets, while Ben Stokes, David Willey and Reece Topley managed 1 wicket each. 

In the first innings, While the top order went on their knees against the Aussie bowlers, Dawid Malan and Moeen Ali steered England to 178/7 in 20 overs against Australia in the 2nd T20I. 

After England were at 54/4 in 8.1 overs, Dawid Malan and Moeen Ali etched a partnership of 92 runs in 52 balls for the 5th wicket. Moeen Ali was dismissed by Adam Zampa after scoring 44 runs off 27 balls with 4 fours & 2 sixes. 

Dawid Malan on the other hand smacked 82 runs in 49 balls with 7 fours & 4 sixes before getting dismissed in the last over. For Australia, Marcus Stoinis grabbed 3 wickets while Adam Zampa picked up 2 wickets. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc managed 1 wicket each. 

Earlier, Australia captain Aaron Finch won the toss & opted to bowl first against England in the 2nd T20I. This match was played at Manuka Oval, Canberra.

Brief Score:

• England – 178/7 (Malan - 82(49), Stoinis - 3/34)
• Australia – 170/6 (M. Marsh - 45(29), Curran - 3/25)