Australia showcased their dominant form in a thrilling T20 World Cup clash, defeating arch-rivals England at the Kensington Oval late Saturday.England, under pressure to secure a win after their opening match against Scotland was washed out, won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to leverage the conditions to their advantage.
The Australian innings began explosively, with openers Travis Head and David Warner launching a fierce assault on the English bowlers. Warner, known for his aggressive batting style, struck a quick-fire 39 off just 20 balls, setting a brisk pace before being dismissed in the fifth over.
By this time, Australia had already amassed 70 runs, laying a strong foundation for a high total. Travis Head followed soon after, falling in the next over for 31, but the momentum was maintained by captain Mitchell Marsh and the versatile Glenn Maxwell. Marsh contributed a steady 35 runs, while Maxwell added a dynamic 28, both ensuring the run rate remained high.
Their efforts were complemented by Marcus Stoinis, who played a crucial late cameo, scoring 30 off 15 balls. This aggressive batting display propelled Australia to a formidable total of 201/7 at the end of their 20 overs.
In response, England openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler provided a promising start, matching the required run rate and keeping their team in the hunt. Salt, in particular, was aggressive, but his innings was cut short by Adam Zampa in the seventh over, a pivotal moment that shifted the game's momentum in Australia's favour.
Zampa, Australia’s ace leg-spinner, struck again in his next over, dismissing the dangerous Buttler. England's middle order struggled to recover from these setbacks.
Despite some resistance from Moeen Ali and Harry Brook, who played decent cameos, the rest of the batting lineup failed to form significant partnerships or maintain the scoring pace. England's innings concluded at 165/6, falling 36 runs short of the target.
Zampa's exceptional bowling, which included the crucial wickets of both English openers and conceding only 28 runs in his four overs, earned him the man-of-the-match award.
This victory keeps Australia at the top of Group C with 4 points, demonstrating their formidable form in the tournament. In contrast, England, still seeking their first win, remains second from the bottom.England will be looking to bounce back in their next fixture against Oman, while Australia aims to continue their winning streak with a third consecutive victory against Namibia.(UNI)
