England stun Australia with fine comeback to win opening T20

A remarkable late salvo with the ball helps put Eoin Morgan's men 1-0 up in the three-match series after a two-run success in Southampton

The Ageas Bowl: England 162-7 v Australia 160-6 - England won by two runs

Scorecard

England produced a stunning comeback with the ball to defeat Australia by two runs in a thrilling first T20 international at The Ageas Bowl.

Playing their first competitive match in any format for nearly six months, the tourists restricted Eoin Morgan's men to 162 for 7 before putting themselves in a strong position in the chase.

David Warner (58) struck his 18th half-century and captain Aaron Finch scored 46 as the pair put on 98 for the first wicket to seemingly take the game away from the hosts.

Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid combined to take three wickets between them in seven deliveries, which saw Steve Smith (18), Glenn Maxwell (1) and Warner sent packing, to give England home as they fought their way back into the contest.

Mark Wood then picked up Alex Carey (1) to leave the world No.1 ranked nation in the ICC standing needing 30 from 21 balls.

That quickly became 15 off the final over and Marcus Stoinis hammered a six through cover but Tom Curran produced a fine comeback to secure the most unlikely of victories.

Earlier, Jos Buttler supercharged the start of the England innings with an effervescent 44, punctuated by boundaries off Ashton Agar and Mitchell Starc.

But the spin trio of Agar, Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell started to take control and after Buttler was sent packing, captain Morgan (5) and Tom Banton (8) also succumbed to pace off the ball.

^{David Warner had seemingly set Australia on their way to victory}

But Dawid Malan continued his incredible start to his T20 career with his eighth score of fifty or above in 14 innings. He eventually finished on 66 to guide the 50-over world champions to a respectable 162 for 7.

Australia made good early progress with the bat, with Finch using muscle and Warner speed between the wickets to build a formidable opening partnership.

New ball pair Archer and Wood were testing the speed gun, regularly going over 90mph, but once again failed to take a powerplay wicket. England have now taken just three in their last seven T20s.

Finch fell first but Justin Langer's side got themselves to 124 for 1 with 5.5 overs remaining to knock off the target.

But England had other ideas and after bringing back Archer and Wood to support Rashid claimed 3-9 in 13 balls, as Smith, Maxwell, and Carey were all dismissed.

The chase had now stalled and after Chris Jordan's third over went for just five which included the run-out of Agar, Australia were left needing 15 for victory.

Stoinis smashed Tom Curran for a maximum and spooned one up in the early, with four England fielders unable to get there.

But Curran showed plenty of character and found his best at the death, bowling a perfect yorker with five needed off the last ball to help put England 1-0 up in the series with two matches on September 6 and 8 to play.

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