England v Australia only T20I: 5 Talking Points

England v Australia only T20I: 5 Talking Points: The only T20I match between England and Australia at Cardiff proved to be a happy hunting one for the batters of both the sides. The cricket lovers were served with high dose of entertainment and thrill as big and lusty hits emblazed the Sophia Gardens at Cardiff. The English team which batted first didn’t have the best of the starts but Morgan and Ali played blistering innings to help the hosts impose a competitive target of 183 runs.

But T20 cricket is such a format in which literally any score can be chased down. In the match, Australian’s were cruising towards victory and were in postion of ascendancy but the wicket of Smith turned the match on its head and England won the thrilling match by 5 runs.

Here are the England v Australia only T20I: 5 Talking Points:

1. Morgan-Ali partnership:

The English side was struggling at 18/2 after 4 overs but then the pair of Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali came to the rescue of the side. They added 135 runs for the 3^rd wicket in only 74 deliveries and gave the much-needed momentum to the side. Morgan stroked 74 runs off only 39 deliveries with 7 hits over the ropes while the English southpaw Ali hammered a 46 ball 72 run knock and remained not-out.

2. Final moments:

In a close encounter like this when the match goes down to the wire there is intensified contest of the nerves and the team which can remain cool and calm on the field and excel in pressure situations emerges as the winner. Australia’s run-chase was sailing smoothly and they required only 49 runs off the final 30 deliveries with 7 wickets in hand and Smith batting in 70’s. But yet they faltered in the final moments of the game.The visitors needed 12 runs off the final over but Stokes held his nerves and gave away only 6 runs to win his side the match.

3. Australia’s exceptional death bowling:

After 16 overs, England was 152/2 with Morgan and Ali looking in red-hot form. From there on England must have fancied a total in excess of 190 runs to say the least. But the trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile bowled exceptionally well in the last 4 overs to restrict England to only 182 runs. They conceded only 30 runs in the last 24 deliveries on a flat deck.

4. Smith’s exemplary knock:

The Australian skipper Steven Smith played a scintillating knock of 90 runs of just 53 deliveries with the help of 7 fours and 4 sixes. Smith stitched a brilliant partnership of 112 runs for the 3^rd wicket with Glenn Maxwell which turned the tides and at once it looked like that Australia would win the match easily. But it was not the case as the wicket of Smith proved to be the turning point of the match. It is notable that Smith had amassed centuries in his debut match as Aussie skipper in both Test and ODI cricket.

5. High scoring match:

The pitch at Cardiff was dead flat and in the T20 format where batters come on to the crease with the sole aim of attacking the bowlers, this pitch proved to be a perfect-foil for the batsmen of both the sides. A total of 359 runs was scored in the match with England and Australia making 182 and 177 runs respectively. Eoin Morgan (74) and Steve Smith (90) who are also the skippers of their respective sides top-scored for their teams.