Australia vs England: Key Moments from T20 Clash
Australia vs England: Dominance in T20
Exciting Jake Fraser-McGurk has cashed in on an unexpected quick recall, smacking his maiden international half-century as Australia set England a formidable target of 194 to keep their T20 series hopes alive in Cardiff. The 22-year-old Fraser-McGurk, dropped for the first-match victory in Southampton on Wednesday after a lean spell in the Scotland series, was given a fresh opportunity after captain Mitch Marsh had to miss the Sophia Gardens clash with illness.
Key Contributions from the Team
Travis Head stepped in as captain for the first time and immediately led from the front after being invited to bat, smashing a typically fearless 31 off 14 balls, featuring a couple of sixes, before Fraser-McGurk entered the fray after the skipper's dismissal. He quickly demonstrated why he is considered such a dazzling talent, hammering Sam Curran for three straight boundaries and later clouting two sixes as he went to his 50 off just 29 balls. However, he got caught in the deep a couple of balls later off Liam Livingstone's spin. Matt Short contributed a bright knock of 28 in a swift partnership of 52 alongside Head, and Josh Inglis made another valuable contribution of 42 off 26 balls, helping maintain some mid-innings momentum.
Setting the Stage for England
A late blast from allrounder Aaron Hardie, with an unbeaten 20 off nine balls including 17 off Curran's final over of the innings, helped propel Australia to 6-193, leaving England to chase down the second highest T20I total at the Welsh venue. Head reported at the toss that Mitch Marsh was home sick and admitted that the skipper's illness and the absence of injured pacer Xavier Bartlett meant it was 'all hands on deck' for the Australians.
Josh Hazlewood, who was impressive in Southampton, has been rested presumably to protect him after a recent calf niggle. Meanwhile, seam bowling allrounder Hardie and spinning allrounder Cooper Connolly both came into the side. Overnight scans revealed Bartlett had suffered a side strain in the first game, which ruled him out of Sunday’s final T20 in Manchester as well, with Ben Dwarshuis joining the squad for the Old Trafford game.
England also made a surprising change for their must-win match, wrapping their injury-prone strike bowler Jofra Archer in cotton wool while bringing in Brydon Carse, who filled in impressively, taking 2-26 off his four overs.
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