It was a clinical all-round display from the number one ranked T20I team in the world. England continued their winning run in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 with a massive eight-wicket win with 50 balls to spare. Jos Buttler remained unbeaten for 71 off 32 balls and made short work of the run chase to boost England’s net run rate (NRR). With an NRR of +3.948, England are practically the first team to qualify for semi-final from Group 1.
Buttler doesn’t give an inch
It was all Buttler show in the run chase. England got off to a flier with a 66-run opening partnership between the wicketkeeper-batter and Jason Roy in 6.1 overs. Australian bowlers did not get any early wickets and did not get a chance to make a comeback despite Roy’s wicket.
Dawid Malan struggled against spin and got out after scoring eight runs but Buttler ensured Australian bowlers don’t sniff an opening. He got to his half-century from 25 deliveries and hit a flurry of fours and sixes to get England home. His 71-run knock including five fours and five sixes. Jonny Bairstow too joined the party and hit two huge sixes off Adam Zampa to help England register their third-biggest T20I win in terms of balls remaining.
No way home against English bowlers
A lot was expected from David Warner after returning to form with a half-century against Bangladesh in previous match. Once again, Warner registered a single-digit score getting out in the second over to Chris Woakes.
Not including Mitchell Marsh, Australia’s best batter before T20 World Cup turned out to be a bad move as Steve Smith managed just one run off five deliveries. Woakes got another crucial wicket in the powerplay by getting rid of in-form Glenn Maxwell. Marcus Stoinis did not trouble the scorers and bagged a four-ball duck as Adil Rashid trapped him in front of the wickets.
Australia were reduced to 21/4 in the seventh over putting immense pressure on the skipper and the lower middle order to post a fighting total.
Finch’s damage-controlling slow knock
Aaron Finch was the top-scored for Australia with a 44-run knock. However, Finch could not score at a good pace as he faced 49 deliveries to score 44 runs. The big-hitter could not hit a single six in his innings. His strike rate of 89.80 is the lowest by a skipper in T20 World Cup events (facing 40 balls or more). He got out in the penultimate over which led to Australia getting bundled out.
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc helped Australia finish with a bang. Cummins hit two sixes off consecutive deliveries and got out whereas Starc contributed with a six-ball 13 including one four and six each. As a result, Australia put on a below par total of 125 against an in-form England.
Toss the boss
Once again, the team winning the toss and opting to bowl first has managed to win the match in the mega event. This win makes it 14 out of 15 while bowling first in Dubai.
