For a brief period, it seemed that this game would have a similar script as last one. The chasing side would falter in the final overs as England were losing wickets towards the end with 23 required off last three. But unlike Australia, England opener Jos Buttler didn’t let go of his team until he finished the business. He held on to one end and ensured his team would cross the line with his sublime 77 runs adorned by 8 boundaries and 2 big hits. Scorecard

Australia struggle at top

Aaron Finch won the toss and chose to bat first as he reckoned the pitch would slow down as the game progresses. Eoin Morgan didn’t mind that decision as he wanted to bowl first. As it turned out, it was Morgan who read the pitch better. Pitch had something to offer for the English quicks and they didn’t disappoint their captain. There was swing on offer with an extra fizz off the pitch. Warner got a beauty from Jofra in the first over itself. The ball seemed in after pitching and the extra bounce cut Warner in half and kissed his gloves on way to the keeper. Alex Carey, promoted to 1^st down played a rash shot the next over only to edge the Wood ball that was swinging away from him.

Finch sent a few balls to the boundary including a six off Archer- pulled over fine leg aided by the pace of Archer. Smith also showed good intent during his short stay at crease. He pulled Curran twice in the 5^th over, once for a boundary and then for a six. The last ball of the over, however brought his demise owing to a brilliant piece of fielding from Morgan. Ball was pushed towards mid on and Smith wanted to take a quick single, but Morgan from mid-wicket cut in the ball mid way and underarmed a direct hit at stumps. Smith was well short of his crease. Australia could manage only 39 from the powerplay while losing 3 wickets in the process.

Finch, Stoinis consolidate

Finch and Stoinis took the game forward with their 49-run partnership but just as they were settling down Finch played on a Jordan delivery that has some extra bounce. Finch’s 40(33) comprised of four hits to the boundary and two sixes. Stoinis(35) perished in next over when he deflected a big turner from Rashid straight to Malan at first slip. Maxwell(26) and Agar(23) put together 43 runs towards the end. Cummins cameo of 13 off 5 balls propelled Australia to a respectable score of 157/7. It included a 4 and a 6 (down the ground) off Jorfra’s last over that yielded 18 runs.

England run chase

England got to steady start chasing the below par score of 157 until the 3^rd over. Bairstow was coming to his groove with two 4s off first two deliveries of Starc but attempting a pull of 5^th ball, the bat connected to stumps rather that the ball. Buttler and the ever consistent Malan then took the innings ahead with regular boundaries and strike rotation in between. Australia tried both pace and spin but could not get a wicket until the 14^th over. Buttler and Malan put on solid stand of 87 runs and took the game away from Aussies slowly but surely. Buttler brought his fifty in the process off 38 balls.

Slight hiccup

Malan’s wicket, holed out to deep mid wicket off Agar, brought two more for Australia in the form of Banton and Morgan. Banton swept Agar in the hands of backward square leg while Morgan reversed roles with Maxwell from 1^st T20I. This time his aerial drive was caught at covers by Maxwell. Match was heading towards an end similar to that of first T20I but the duo of Buttler and Ali had other ideas. England needed 18 off last two and Zampa got the responsibility to ball the 19^th. Ali sent him down the ground for six first and then towards extra cover for a boundary. Later Buttler finished it off in the same over with another one down the ground, thereby providing England an unassailable lead in the series.