Sydney October 9 2022: England beat Australia by eight runs in a thriller in Perth in the first T20I of the bilateral series to record their first T20I win in the country in 11 years.
England hung on in Perth against Australia after recording a tall total to win by eight runs in the first T20I on Sunday. The win marked their first victory in men’s T20Is Down Under in 11 years.
Their first and only win in Australia in a T20I came in 2011 in Adelaide when they won by one wicket. Since then, England lost all six T20Is they played in Australia until the game on Sunday.
Put in to bat, Jos Buttler and Alex Hales recorded a 132-run opening partnership to put England on course for a big total. Even though the middle-order struggled to score as quickly, England ended up posting their second total of 200 or more in Australia.
David Warner led Australia’s run chase with a fine half-century, but his wicket in the 17th over turned the game England’s way. Despite Matthew Wade’s late fireworks, England came back into the game with Reece Topley bowling a brilliant penultimate over that accounted for just six runs.
With 16 needed off the final over, Sam Curran held his nerve to send back dangerman Wade and conceded just seven runs to help England to an eight-run win.
The series continues with matches in Canberra on Wednesday and Friday. England then play a warm-up fixture on 17th against Pakistan before their T20 World Cup kicks off on October 22 with the match against Afghanistan.
