England defeated Australia in the second T20I to clinch the three-match series at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday.
Put to bat first, the tourists were in a spot of bother after losing four wickets for just 54 in 8.1 overs. As the English side were struggling, Dawid Malan and Moeen Ali joined hands to bail out their team.
Malan and Moeen formed a scintillating partnership of 92 runs for the fifth wicket before Adam Zampa broke the stand by dismissing Moeen for 44. Malan, however, kept his end alive until the final over to take England to a formidable total.
The left-handed batter smashed a brilliant knock of 82 runs from 49 deliveries, with the help of seven fours and 4 sixes, as England managed to post 178/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Marcus Stoinis shined with the ball for Australia, picking three wickets for 34 in his quota of 4 overs.
In response, the contest went down to the wire, where the hosts fell eight runs short of losing the series with one game left to be played. Mitchell Marsh (45 off 29) and Tim David (40 off 23) chipped in with valuable contributions, but a brilliant bowling display from Sam Curran turned the tables.
Curran picked up three wickets for 25 in a thrilling contest to guide England to an inspirational victory.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
England hold their nerve to take an unassailable 2-0 lead 🤩
Watch the #AUSvENG series LIVE on https://t.co/MHHfZPyHf9 (in select regions) pic.twitter.com/pEUL9dG7wY
— ICC (@ICC) October 12, 2022
Series secured in Canberra! 🦁
Scorecard: https://t.co/jOoguPDhFx
🇦🇺 #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/g8xmM3ogkq
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 12, 2022
Sam Curran used to be a bit-part player in T20Is but has bowled his full allocation in 7 of his last 8 games and is England’s leading wicket-taker this winter
Increasingly clear that he has to play at the World Cup – most likely at No.8, as a frontline seamer and death bowler
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) October 12, 2022
50 in 31 balls for Dawid Malan: outstanding innings from a no 3, scoring rapidly despite an early collapse and – against Australia’s full strength attacks – another indication that Australia should suit him well
— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) October 12, 2022
ENGLAND WIN SERIES
The perfect prep for our #T20WorldCup campaign, beating the old enemy!#AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/WLdOOnG19K
— England’s Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) October 12, 2022
Interesting lengths from Sam Curran in this last over, especially after that missed yorker at the start. And it’s worked. These relatively bigger boundaries in Australia will be a big & rather obvious feature of the #T20WorldCup especially with regards to death bowling #AusvEng
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 12, 2022
Despite fielding a full-strength starting XI for the first time in almost 12 months, the Australians were plagued by dropped catches and cheap dismissals as England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the bilateral T20 series: https://t.co/5fiMkcptj3
Getty #AUSvENG @newscomauHQ pic.twitter.com/SZjHLs0gW5
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) October 12, 2022
Sam Curran’s bouncer is a really good weapon. Since the start of 2021 it has earned him 11 wickets in T20 cricket at an average of 18 making it his most threatening and effective delivery. #AUSvENG
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) October 12, 2022
Jos Buttler. Dawid Malan. Sam Curran have closed the series on Australia in two games. Well played.
— Nikhil (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 12, 2022
Sam Curran was gritty and some good defensive skills.
Used the short ball well.
He seemed to be watching the feet of the batter.
Went wide of off when needed and bowled to the field.
‘Kadai Kutty’.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) October 12, 2022
Dawid Malan scored 82 in 49 balls against Australia in the 2nd T20i.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 12, 2022
