Australia became the first side to post a 200-plus total in T20 World Cup 2024 and it helped them beat defending champions England by a comfortable margin of 36 runs. A strong start and several cameos helped Australia post 201/7. Despite a good reply, England lost the plot in the middle overs against Adam Zampa and suffered their first defeat of the tournament.
Head, Warner go bang-bang!
Earlier, Buttler won the toss and opted to field first. After Moeen Ali's economical over, Travis Head attacked Will Jacks hitting him for two sixes. David Warner hit Jacks for a six in the 22-run over as well. In the fourth over, Warner targetted Mark Wood and hit him for three sixes and a four. Ali came back into the attack. Head hit him for a four and a six. Warner hit him for another boundary before getting bowled by a delivery that stayed low. He scored 39 runs from 16 balls. In the next over, Head got bowled by Jofra Archer. He scored 34 runs from 18 balls. Australia were 74/2 after powerplay overs.
Cameos continue
After a slow start, Glenn Maxwell hit Adil Rashid for a boundary. Marsh hit a massive six in the same over breaking one of the solar panels on the roof. At the halfway mark, Australia were 102/2. Marsh took on Archer as well smashed him for a six. Chris Jordan came back into the attack and took a beating from Maxwell in the 18-run over. Liam Livingstone got into the attack and got Marsh stumped. He scored 35 runs from 25 balls. In the next over, Maxwell got out to Rashid. He scored 28 runs from 25 balls.
Marcus Stoinis got off the mark with a maximum. He smashed Livingstone with a six as well. Tim David hit Jordan for a six before getting dropped by the bowler on follow through. It did not turn out to be expensive as Jordan dismissed him with a slower one. A few boundaries in the slog overs helped Australia cross the 200-run mark. In the last over Jordan dismissed Stoinis for a 17-ball 38. Pat Cummins was run out for a diamond duck. Matthew Wade's unbeaten 10-ball 17 helped Australia post 201/7.
Salt, Buttler’s onslaught ended by Zampa
In the run chase, Phil Salt and Buttler got England off to a terrific start. Salt hit the first six of the innings against Starc in the third over. The onslaught continued till Stoinis arrived. England were 54 for no loss after poweprlay overs. Salt and Buttler continued to target Starc who was hit for a six each in the 19-run over. Zampa broke the partnership with the first ball. Salt got bowled for a 23-ball 37. In Zampa's next over, Buttler hit a six before getting caught attempting a reverse sweep. He scored 48 runs from 28 balls. At the halfway stage, England were 93/2.
Easy win for Australia
Stoinis came back into the attack and dismissed Jacks for a run-a-ball 10. Jonny Bairstow and Ali struggled against the spinners in the middle overs. In the 14th over, Ali targetted Maxwell and hit him for three sixes. Bairstow's struggled in the middle was ended by Josh Hazlewood. He scored just seven runs from 13 balls. Cummins came back into the attack and ended Ali's cameo. He scored 25 runs from 15 balls. The required run rate slipped out og grasp. Harry Brook struggled and Livingstone was left with too much to do. In the penultiamte over Cummins dismissed Livingstone for 12-ball 15. Brook remained unbeaten for 16-ball 20 as England posted 165/6 and lost the match by 36 runs.
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