In their previous two games at the Men's T20 World Cup 2021, England had won with 70 and 35 balls to spare. Now they outclassed their arch rivals to make it three in a row. They bundled out Australia for 125 and chased the target with 50 balls to spare, their third-highest margin in T20I cricket.
Earlier in the evening, Australia got off to a horror start after Eoin Morgan won a third consecutive toss. They managed only 21 off the Powerplay, losing four wickets. Chris Woakes (2-23) did the most damage during this period, with two wickets and a scintillating one-handed catch to remove Steven Smith.
Matthew Wade and Aaron Finch held the fort from there, but struggled to accelerate against a disciplined English unit, led by Chris Jordan (3-17). Australia reached 41/4 in 10 overs, their second-lowest score at the halfway stage in T20Is.
Wade (18) tried to break the shackles, but ended up holing out to Jason Roy at long-on off Liam Livingstone (1-15). Ashton Agar (20) and Pat Cummins (12 in 3 balls) smacked two sixes each, but did not last long. Finch (44 in 49), too, failed to remain till the end, falling to Jordan in the penultimate over.
In an evening where four English bowlers went for less than six an over, Tymal Mills conceded 45 off his four overs for two wickets.
Roy and Jos Buttler then provided England the familiar fiery start. They accumulated more than half of the target inside the Powerplay. Then, in the seventh over, Adam Zampa trapped Roy (22) leg before to give Australia a slim hope.
But Buttler’s carnage continued. He notched 50 off 25 balls, and struck five sixes and as many fours in an unbeaten 32-ball 71 to take England home in 11.4 overs. Jonny Bairstow (16*), who remained unbeaten from the other end, also smashed two sixes to finish things off quickly.
Brief Scores: Australia 125 in 20 overs (Aaron Finch 44; Chris Jordan 3-17) lost to England 126/2 in 11.4 overs (Jos Buttler 71*; Ashton Agar 1-15) by 8 wickets with 50 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Chris Jordan.