Defending champs England in trouble after loss to Australia

Australian spinner Adam Zampa celebrates the dismissal of England opener Phil Salt  

Defending champions England’s hopes of reaching the T20 World Cup Super Eights took a big dent as they slipped to a heavy 36-run defeat to Australia in a Group B match played at Barbados on Saturday.

Jos Buttler’s side, batting for the first time in the tournament after rain prevented them beginning a chase in the abandonment against Scotland on Tuesday, could muster only 165-6 having been set 202 to win. Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa bagged 2/28 and was supported superbly by the seamers, including Pat Cummins (2/23).

Buttler (42 off 28 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) and opening partner Phil Salt (37 off 23 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) smoked 73 in seven overs but then fell to Zampa as Australia seized control and the dot balls built up, with Moeen Ali’s three sixes of Glenn Maxwell in the 14th over only a fleeting high at the backend.

Defeat is not terminal for England’s hopes of reaching the next stage but even victories over Oman on Thursday and Namibia on Saturday, both in Antigua, may not be enough with their chances of progression possibly coming down to net run-rate.

Australia posted 201-7 after being inserted, a total underpinned by a riotous opening stand of 70 in just 4.5 overs between David Warner (39 off 16 balls, 2 fours, 4 sixes) and Travis Head (34 off 18 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) as the left-handers ruthlessly targeted the short boundary, punishing England’s pace-on balls and decision to bowl part-time off-spinner Will Jacks.

Marcus Stoinis, who cracked an unbeaten 67 from 36 balls against Oman, chipped in with 30 from 17 balls before he became Chris Jordan’s 100th T20 international wicket.

The 2021 champions top Group B on four points, with their win in Bridgetown following a 39-run victory over Oman earlier this week. They now hold the highest score in the 2024 tournament so far with their knock eclipsing the 197-3 Pakistan’s conquerors USA managed in their win over Canada in the opening game.

Scores: 

Australia 201-7 (20) (Travis Head 34, David Warner 39, Mitch Marsh 35, Glenn Maxwell 28, Marcus Stoinis 30, Chris Jordan 2/44)

England 165-6 (20) (Phil Salt 37, Jos Buttler 42, Moeen Ali 25, Harry Brook 20*, Pat Cummins 2/23, Adam Zampa 2/28)