We witnessed innings of similar nature in both halves. Early wickets, big partnership in the middle and bowlers regaining the control with variations towards the end. But it was Hazlewood’s accuracy that produced barrage of dot balls and crucial wickets at top that made the difference. Billings with his maiden ton tried his best but didn’t get the required support from the other end. Hence England fell short of target by 19 runs.

Morgan invites Aus to bat first

Australia did not have the best of starts as a peach from Archer sent Warner packing. Pitched on length, the ball seamed away to beat Warner’s bat forward in defense, to hit the top of off. Stoinis was next to come in as coach Langer prefers him top of the order. With Finch he batted cautiously initially but found boundaries on regular interval. Wood, who came in as first change, struck on his very first ball. Finch drove his ball without much feet movement and edged it to keeper. With three fours in the 12^th over of Wood, Stoinis was looking dangerous. But Wood in his next over dismissed him in a similar fashion as that of his captain Finch, only difference being the diving catch from Buttler this time. Labuschagne and Carey followed soon owing to Adil Rashid. Labuschagne missed a flick off Rashid’s slider to get trapped in front. Carey carried his bad form to get out cheaply off a mistimed sweep.

Marsh-Maxwell century stand

Australia were tottering at 123/5 when Marsh and Maxwell came together in the middle. Marsh was a bit patient but Maxwell was at his agressive best, though he didn’t play rash shots to get out early. He made his intentions clear with a six early on and then worked hard on building a partnership with Marsh. Marrsh got to his fifty off 75 balls with the help of five boundaries. Maxwell, however, scored his half century in 43 balls only. In the 44^th over he let himself loose with two huge sixes off the first two balls of Archer. But a change of withered ball brought bad luck for him as he chopped on the next one to his stumps, bowled a bit slower from Archer. As the 126 runs partnership broke, Australia lost their momentum. Soon Wood accounted for Marsh who contributed a solid 73 runs in 100 balls that he faced. A 12-ball 19 runs, including a six off last ball of the innings, from Starc took Australia to 294 in the stipulated overs.

England’s poor start

Australian bowlers were right on the money and began their defense well. Hazlewood and Starc bowled in right corridors and did not offer any freebies to score off. This resulted in out of form Roy to do something extra and he perished in the process. HE came down the wicket to drive back at Hazlewood who held on to a brilliant one handed catch. Hazlewood then sent Root back, caught behind while poking his bat out. The first powerplay yielded only 22 runs- not a good sign when you are chasing the stiff target of 295. Morgan in order to up the ante fell to Zampa, being caught at midwicket trying to pull a not-that-short ball. Buttler’s stay was also cut short by Zampa as his loft lacked timing and was caught by a forward diving Labuschagne at long off.

Bairstow-Billings rescue

Bairstow at the other end had many shots and misses but he like the last T20I did not throw his wicket away. It took him 78 balls to reach his fifty but his patience paid off as he later made amends with some big shots. He forged an important partnership of 113 runs with Billings who looked in good touch. Trying to loft Zampa over long on he too perished as Hazlewood covered some good yards to catch him short of boundary. At 170/5 England looked out of steam but Billings waged a lone battle to try taking his team home. With flurry of boundaries and two 41-run stands with Woakes and Archer he tried his best but fell short in the end by 19 runs. Australian bowlers like their counterparts used the change of pace deliveries- roll of fingers and dug in short- to good effect. Billings was caught at long on off the last ball as he made a 110-ball 118 consisting of 14 boundaries and 2 sixes.

Josh Hazlewood got the Man of the Match award for his extremely economical figures of 3/26 in 10 overs including three maidens.