England beat Australia by XX runs in 2nd T20 International to level series 1-1

England drew the two-match T20 series 1-1 © Getty Images

Aug 31, 2013

England beat Australia by 27 runs to win the second Twenty20 International and level the series 1-1 at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.

Chasing 196 for win, Australia’s march was rocked early as skipper Stuart Broad dismissed the star player of the previous match Aaron Finch in the second over of the innings. In the next over, Eoin Morgan, fielding at backward point, effected a brilliant run-out to send back the dangerous Shane Watson.

Finally in company of Shaun Marsh, David Warner found support as the duo added 67 runs in 44 balls for the third wicket. Warner led the way with a brilliant half-century, a 42-ball knock that included five boundaries and three sixes.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as Australia never got any partnership going and eventually lost out in the chase.

Earlier, opener Alex Hales scored a brilliant 94 to take England to 195 for five in their 20 overs against Australia in the second Twenty20 International at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.

Australia skipper George Bailey won the toss and elected to field against England. However, the move backfired as the hosts got off to a flying start. Openers Hales and Michael Lumb took England to 61 for no loss at the end of the first six overs.

The innings got off to a slow start as Mitchell Johnson gave away just one run in the first over. Shane Watson, who was brought in to bowl the second over, had to bear the brunt of the merciless attack of the English batsmen as Lumb whip-cracked a slap through point off the very first delivery. Watson ended up giving 13 runs off the over.

By the end of the 10th over, England were sitting pretty at 94 with all their 10 wickets intact.

It was in the 12th over when the visitors got their first breakthrough. Lumb, trying to play a slog sweep off Fawad Ahmed, mishit the ball in the air as Matthew Wade took a good catch to gift him his first international wicket.

However, Hales continued the onslaught in company of Luke Wright who came to the crease at the fall of the first wicket. Wright struck three boundaries and a six in his quickfire 18-ball knock of 30.

Hales struck 11 boundaries and two sixes in his 61-ball knock.

For Australia, Ahmed was the only bowler who kept a check on England’s run-scoring as he gave away just 17 runs in his first three overs. He came back to bowl the last over and bagged two more wickets. He finished with figures of three for 25 in his four overs.

Brief scores:

England 195 for 5 in 20 overs (Alex Hales 94, Michael Lumb 43; Fawad Ahmed 3 for 25) beat Australia 168 for 9 in 20 overs (David Warner 53, Glenn Maxwell 27; Jade Dernbach 3 for 23) by 27 runs

Man of the Match: Alex Hales

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