The Australian cricket team has beaten England by five wickets in the final T20 International with three balls to spare at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Australia now regains the world number one ranking for the shortest form of the game.
Aaron Finch’s team still had plenty to play for in Southampton, despite number two-ranked England entering the clash with an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
There were some tense moments in Australia’s chase, including a mid-innings collapse from 1-70 to 5-100, but allrounders Mitch Marsh and Ashton Agar steadied to pass England’s total of 6-145 with three balls to spare.
Marsh’s unbeaten 39 helped Australia avoid a dramatic repeat of their game one meltdown when they lost by two runs after being in total control.
Australia survived Adil Rashid’s game-changing spell of 3-23, with the leg-spinner taking the key scalps of Finch (39), power-hitter Glenn Maxwell, and master batsman Steve Smith (3).
But Australia, who rested star opener David Warner and fast bowler Pat Cummins, was far more comfortable batting under lights against England’s quicks
Matthew Wade and Finch took 16 runs from the opening over, which ended when the former smashed a mammoth 91m six to the leg-side off speedster Jofra Archer.
England’s top-order was far less threatening without explosive opener Jos Buttler — who sat out the match to be with his family after blasting an unbeaten match-winning 77 in game two — and inspirational captain Eoin Morgan, who was injured.
They batted with nowhere near the intensity that saw them wrap up the series on Sunday, struggling to the lowest total in the three games.
After being sent into bat by Finch, England were best served by Jonny Bairstow’s gritty 55.
Buttler’s replacement at the top of the order, Tom Banton, was knocked over for two by Josh Hazlewood, who came into the Australian team for Cummins.
Bairstow and the prolific Dawid Malan steadied with a 49-run second-wicket partnership before legspinner Adam Zampa (2-34) dismissed the latter.
Moeen Ali grafted 23 from 21 balls filling in for Morgan as captain.
Australia and England will switch to the 50-over format on Friday when they start a three-game ODI series at Old Trafford in Manchester.
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