England beat world champions Australia by eight runs in the first T20I on Sunday, thanks to the lethal bowling of Mark Wood (34/3) followed by explosive half-centuries from Alex Hales (84) and Jos Buttler (68). This is England's first win in T20I cricket after 11 years in Australia. The England team had earlier won their last T20 International in Adelaide in 2011. England set a target of 209 runs in 20 overs in front of Australia, in response to which the hosts could reach only 200 runs. Hales and Butler put on 132 runs in 68 balls for the first wicket to lay the foundation for England's victory.
Hales made 84 off 51 balls with 12 fours and three sixes, while Buttler, coming back from injury, made 68 off 32 balls with eight fours and four sixes. Despite the failure of the middle order, England scored 208 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs and this score proved to be insufficient for Australia.
Chasing a target of 209, Australia added 62 runs in the powerplay despite the dismissal of Cameron Green (01). David Warner and Mitchell Marsh shared a 71-run partnership for the second wicket, although Aaron Finch (12) also returned to the pavilion early after Marsh's (36) wicket fell. After this, Marcus Stoinis made 35 runs in 15 balls with two fours and three sixes to strengthen Australia's position but Wood took the wickets of Stoinis and Tim David (nil) in the 15th over to make the match exciting.
Australia needed 40 runs in four overs and Warner was leading the Kangaroos to victory. Wood once again proved to be effective for England and he got Warner caught at the hands of Hales. Warner scored 73 runs in 44 balls with eight fours and two sixes before being dismissed.
Kangaroos needed 16 runs in the last over. Matthew Wade (21) hit a four off the first ball but with the fall of his wicket on the third ball, Australia's hopes of victory ended and the team could reach 200/9 in 20 overs. For England, apart from Wood, Reece Topley and Sam Curran took two wickets each while Adil Rashid got one wicket.
