England claim T20 series over Aussies

82 from Dawid Malan and superb death bowling from Sam Curran has delivered a T20 series win for England over Australia, claiming an eight run win in the second match in Canberra.

Batting first England posted 7-178, recovering from 4/54 thanks to a belligerent innings from Malan at number three, striking seven fours and four sixes. Moeen Ali provided a valuable cameo of 44 from 27 balls, Australia’s first choice bowling attack proving far more effective after a second string line up conceded 208 on Sunday in Perth.

Marcus Stoinis claimed 3/34 as he continues to find form on return from injury, Adam Zampa with 2/26 with his leg spin.

David Warner (4) and Aaron Finch (13) both fell cheaply in the chase of 179, Glenn Maxwell’s poor form continuing when he found deep square leg off the bowling of Curran, having made 8 from 11 balls without a boundary.

Mitch Marsh was striking the ball well as he and Stoinis found the boundary regularly through the middle overs, Ben Stokes with some brilliance on the boundary line to save a six off Marsh’s bat. Stoinis (22 off 13) and Marsh (45 off 29) couldn’t go on with the job for Australia, but Tim David looked like he might be the hero in a quickfire knock with 40 from 25 balls, Australia needing 30 off the last three overs.

David’s dismissal, bowled by a brilliant yorker from Curran signalled the end of Australia’s hopes, his 18th over the difference in the match as he conceded only 3 runs.

For a second match in succession Australia fell short by 8 runs, handing England the series on another hard fought clash just days out from the T20 World Cup. Curran claimed 3/25 from four overs but it was Malan who claimed player of the match honours, his knock crucial to the result.

The third and final T20I is at the same venue on Friday night.

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