Muscat, Oct 30
England produced a thoroughly professional effort to crush Australia by eight wickets and confirm their place in the semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai on Saturday.
Jos Buttler hammered 71 off just 32 balls with five sixes and as many boundaries and the English bowlers Chris Jordan (3/17), Chris Woakes (2/23) and and Tymal Mills (2/45) all contributed in the huge victory.
The victory ensured that England are at the top of the table with six points and Australia remain second placed with four points.
ENGLAND START IN STYLE
England began their chase in marauding fashion as Jason Roy and Jos Buttler tore apart the Australian bowlers in the powerplay.
Buttler was the more aggressive of the two as he smashed three sixes and two boundaries reaching 39 off just 19 balls and Roy blasting a six and a four for 22 off 18 balls.
England were cruising at top speed at 66/0 after six overs and going at a run rate of 11.
Just when it looked as if everything was going England's way, Adam Zampa had Roy lbw for 22 as Australia looked to chip away.
However, Buttler and new batsman Dawid Malan keep things going at a frenetic pace for England.
AUSSIES STUTTER
Earlier, Australia had the worst possible start to the game as they lost four wickets in the first 37 balls of the match.
Chris Woakes did some early damage picking up the wickets of the dangerous David Warner and Glenn Maxwell. Chris Jordan sent Steve Smith back to the pavilion while Adil Rashid got the back of Marcus Stoinis.
At 21/4, Australia had a huge amount of work to do and England had their tails up in the clash between the old foes.
Matthew Wade and skipper Aaron Finch shared a 30-run partnership after which Liam Livingstone struck to claim Wade through a catch by Jason Roy.
It was then the turn of Finch and Ashton Agar to take Australia forward. And the two did exactly that and upped the ante as well.
Agar slammed two sixes while Finch chipped in with a few boundaries to improve his strike rate and keep the scoreboard ticking at a healthy pace.
After a 47-run partnership, Agar was out holing out to Livingstone at deep midwicket off a Tymal Mills delivery.
New man on strike, Pat Cummins counter-attacked amazingly with two sublime sixes off the first two balls he faced off Mills.
Chris Jordan had other plans though as he got two wickets from the first two balls of the 19th over. Jordan got Finch, who was caught at long off by Jonny Bairstow, and Cummins who was castled with a pin-point yorker.
Adam Zampa was run out off the fourth ball of the 20th over and Mitchell Starc blasted a six over the fine leg boundary off the fifth.
Finally, Starc was caught behind by wicket-keeper Jos Buttler in the last ball as Australia were all out for 125 in 20 overs setting England 126 to win.
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