Australia destroyed England by 36 runs in Barbados on Saturday, threatening the reigning champions’ T20 World Cup aspirations.
Jos Buttler’s side remains winless after their debut game against Scotland was ruined by weather. But Australia, who scored 201-7, leads Group B with two wins after holding their close rivals to 165-6 in 20 overs. Australia’s openers stormed out of the blocks, and the team achieved the tournament’s first score of 200 or more runs, despite the fact that no batter surpassed 40. Phil Salt and Buttler provided a good foundation for England’s reply, reaching 54-0 after six overs before ramping up a gear and taking 19 off Mitchell Starc’s third over.
However, spinner Adam Zampa removed the valuable wicket of Buttler in his next over for 42 after bowling Salt (37) with his first ball to leave England 73-1 in the eighth over.
Australia reversed the tables, giving up just 11 runs in three overs before Marcus Stoinis was bowled out for ten, and Starc caught Will Jacks in the deep.
As England’s circumstances grew more dire, Moeen Ali hit three sixes off a Glenn Maxwell over, but Jonny Bairstow went cheap and Moeen went down for 25, caught by David Warner in the deep.
As the run rate increased, England found it difficult to bowl with discipline, and Zampa concluded with remarkable numbers of 2-28 from his four overs.
Earlier, Buttler decided to bowl at Kensington Oval, but he swiftly lost control as openers Travis Head and Warner went on a spree.
Spinner Jacks gave up 22 runs in his opening over, including three sixes, as Australia’s openers savaged the bowling.
Paceman Mark Wood also gave 22 runs in his first over as Australia raced to 55-0 in four overs, thanks to a short boundary on one side of the pitch.
Moeen made the crucial breakthrough England needed in the fifth over, dismissing Warner for 39, and paceman Jofra Archer smashed Head’s stumps (34), leaving Australia 74-2.
Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh reached the century in the tenth over, but Australia was reduced to 141-4 when both batsmen fell in rapid succession.
Australia reached the 200-run milestone thanks to Stoinis (30) and Matthew Wade, with Archer emerging as the standout bowler with 1-28 in his four overs.
The competition’s Super 8 stage will be reached by the top two teams in each group.
England’s terrible championship defense at the 50-over World Cup in India last year would make an early exit a misery.
