Melbourne: Australia cruised to a seven-wicket victory over England with more than five overs to spare to remain unbeaten after three games in the triangular Twenty20 series, here Saturday.
The Australians restricted England to 137 for seven off their 20 overs. Pacer Kane Richardson (3/33) was the standout among the Australian bowlers.
The home team then knocked up the runs off just 14.3 overs. A match-winning partnership of 65 between Glenn Maxwell (39, 26b, 3×4, 2×6) and D’Arcy Short (36 n o, 33b, 3×4, 1×6), plus cameos from Chris Lynn (31, 19b, 4×4, 2×6) and Aaron Finch (20 n o, 5b, 2×4, 2×6), got Australia comfortably home.
The win ensured Australia will play in the tri-series final in Auckland February 21 with preliminary matches now switching to New Zealand.
The game-defining sequence came when Maxwell and Short accelerated the score from 65 for two at the end of the ninth over to 104 for two after the 11th, 39 runs flowing over just two overs.
But David Warner’s form is again in the spotlight after his relentless playing schedule. This time he lasted just four balls, nicking a David Willey (1/30) outswinger on two. Chris Jordan (2/26) bowled well for England.
Earlier, Richardson found an ally in Billy Stanlake (2/28) as the duo claimed five wickets between them after England was sent into bat. England were reeling at 34 for three in the fourth over when Warner ran out Dawid Malan (10) with a brilliant direct hit.
James Vince was skittled by a slower ball from Andrew Tye (1/29) before skipper Jos Buttler (46, 49b, 3×4) and Sam Billings (29, 23b, 4×4, 1×6) steadied the ship.
Brief scores
England 137/7 (Jos Buttler 46; Kane Richardson 3/33) lost to Australia 138/3 (Glenn Maxwell 39, D’Arcy Short 36 n o; Chris Jordan 2/26) by seven wickets.
agence france-presse
