Rain ends England hopes of series whitewash after Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler star

Woakes picked up three early wickets and Buttler another half century, but England were prevented from adding to four straight wins over Pakistan and Australia by persistent rainfall at Manuka Oval

Nick Friend | 14/10/2022 at 12:25

Canberra: England 112-2, Australia 30-3 - match abandoned

Scorecard

England were held up by the Canberra weather as their efforts to complete a T20I series whitewash over Australia were scuppered by persistent rain.

Chris Woakes had inspired Jos Buttler's men, taking the wickets of Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh with the first two deliveries of the home side's innings, after England had batted first at Manuka Oval in a game that was twice shortened.

England's batting effort was hindered by two stoppages for rain, which saw the match reduced first to 17 overs per side and then to 12. Buttler once again starred, circumspect to begin with as the new ball swung – Alex Hales edged to slip without scoring – but then brutal after they returned from the second delay for the final 14 balls of the innings.

He took 22 runs from the 11th over, bowled by Josh Hazlewood, to end unbeaten on 65, seemingly fully recovered from the calf problem that kept him out of the preceding series in Pakistan and in fine touch ahead of the World Cup.

Alongside Dawid Malan, he put on 56 for the second wicket after Hales had edged to slip off Hazlewood. Malan was once again in good touch for 23, before Pat Cummins deceived him with an off-cutter that he could only spoon to extra cover.

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^{Jos Buttler appears to be in fine form (David Gray/AFP via Getty Images)}

Their final total of 112 for 2 was upgraded to 129 via DLS, but only after Ben Stokes had launched a chaotic cameo that included a six off the first ball after the players returned to the field and a bizarre final delivery that almost saw a self-inflicted runout once he belatedly realised that a straight hit wasn't going to reach the boundary.

In reply, Australia were never in the game from the moment that Woakes had Finch – desperate to find some form – caught on the cover boundary with the first ball of the response. One ball later, he was joined back in the dugout by Marsh, squared up by a perfect outswinger that was edged to Mark Wood at short third man.

Steve Smith survived the hat-trick ball, but two overs later Glenn Maxwell clothed a slower delivery to mid-off, giving Woakes a third scalp and the remarkable figures of 3 for 4 in two powerplay overs. The rain then set in once again and, with time running out to force a result, the match was abandoned before the players could return to the field, with just seven deliveries needing to be bowled to reach the minimum threshold.