Eng survive Smith
England captain Eoin Morgan marked his return to cricket by top-scoring in a five-run win over Australia in the lone Twenty20 international in Cardiff on Monday.
Morgan made 74 and shared a third-wicket stand of 135 with fellow left-hander Moeen Ali (72 not out) in a total of 182 for five after England, sent into bat, had slumped to 18 for two.
Australia, however, were on course for victory while skipper Steven Smith was making a Twenty20 international best 90.But they lost five wickets for 16 runs in 14 balls and finished on 177 for eight.
Australia needed 12 to win off the last over, bowled by all-rounder Ben Stokes.However, they lost three wickets, two to run outs, with Stokes also having Nathan Coulter-Nile out for a duck when Adil Rashid held a skyer at short third man.
Stokes conceded just six runs off the over and finished with one for 29 in his maximum four-over stint.Earlier, England lost openers Alex Hales (three) and Jason Roy (11) in four balls from paceman Pat Cummins to be 18 for two in four overs.
Morgan, however, struck a superb straight six off all-rounder Shaun Marsh that sent the ball soaring out of the ground and into the River TaffEngland took 19 runs off Cameron Boyce's lone over of the innings.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ENGLAND: 182 for 5 (Moeen 72 not out, Morgan 74, Buttler 11; Cummins 2-25)
AUSTRALIA: 177 for 8 (Smith 90, Maxwell 44; Willey 2-34)
Result: England won by five runs
Comments