Former champions England are setting a template. Eoin Morgan & Co. produced yet another sensational performance on Saturday, this time to dismantle Australia in a Super 12 clash of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021. After dismissing the Aussies for a lowly 125, the 2010 champions chased down the target with 50 balls to spare with Jos Buttler hitting an unbeaten 71 off 32 balls, laced with five fours and five sixes at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Morgan won the toss and opted to bowl first. Chris Woakes gave England a dream start, getting the wicket of David Warner in the third over. Chris Jordan then took three wickets for 17 runs. For the Aussies, skipper Aaron Finch played a patient knock of 44 off 49. England, with three wins in three, are the runaway leaders in Group 1. They also have a stunning net run rate of 3.948. They next play Sri Lanka, who suffered a heartbreaking defeat to South Africa earlier in the day, on November 1. Australia are third in the group with two wins and one defeat, and they next face already eliminated Bangladesh on November 2. Catch highlights of ENG vs AUS cricket match.
10:24 PM IST: Result
Ashton Agar on with his third over. Swing and miss, and the ball beats everyone, resulting in four byes behind the wicket. A single as Jonny Bairstow plays the next to square leg. Jos Buttler, the wrecker in chief, hits the winning run - a single to third man. A thrashing! England beat Australia by eight wickets with 50 balls to spare. Buttler and Bairstow unbeaten on 71 off 32 and 16 off 11 respectively. ENG - 126/2 (11.4); AUS - 125 (20).
10:20 PM IST: 7 In 54
Adam Zampa on with his third over. And SIXES of first, third and fourth balls as Jonny Bairstow joins the fun. 20 from the over. England need 7 runs in 54 balls. ENG - 119/2 (11)
10:15 PM IST: 27 In 60
Ashton Agar returns and he strikes. Dawid Malan (8 off 8), caught behind. After the drinks back, Agar keeps new man Jonny Bairstow quiet with three dots. A single off the fifth to mid-wicket. Another single. England need 27 runs in 60 balls. ENG - 99/2 (10)
10:08 PM IST: Fifty For Buttler
Adam Zampa on with his second over. A single, then Jos Buttler hits the second for a six, over long-off and fifty in just 25 balls. Four fours and six sixes. He hits a four off the last ball. 15 from the over. ENG - 97/1 (9)
10:03 PM IST: Starc Continues
Mitchell Starc on with his third over. A single, then a searing yorker to David Malan and the England batter brings his bat down just in time. Then a widish and short delivery, and Malan times it for a four, to backward point. A dot, two fours. 14 from the over. ENG - 82/1 (8)
9:57 PM IST: Zampa Strikes
Bowling change. Adam Zampa on. A dot to Jason Roy, then first wicket. Roy goes for 22 off 20, LBW with Australia taking the review. David Malan is the new man for England. ENG - 66/1 (6.2)
9:52 PM IST: Powerplay Over
Mitchell Starc on with his second over. Jason Roy takes a single, then Jos Buttler hits the second for a six, over long-on, then another, in the same area. A dot, then a wide. And a three with sweeper cover stopping near the boundary. A single to end the over. 18 from the over. ENG - 66/0 (6)
9:47 PM IST: England Take Control
Josh Hazlewood on with his second over. Jos Buttler hits the last ball for a four, to long on. 11 from the over. ENG - 48/0 (5)
9:42 PM IST: Buttler Six
Double bowling change. Ashton Agar on. Jos Buttler hits the fifth ball for a six, over long-off boundary. 10 from the over. ENG - 37/0 (4)
9:37 PM IST: Cummins On
Bowling change. Pat Cummins on. And he starts with a wide. A dot to Jos Buttler, then three off a no ball, front foot. A dot off the free hit, then a six over mid on. 14 from the over. ENG - 27/0 (3)
9:30 PM IST: Good Start For England
Josh Hazlewood shares the new ball. Jason Roy hits the first ball for a four, to mid-on. Eight runs from the over. ENG - 13/0 (2)
9:25 PM IST: Chase Begins
Mitchell Starc with the new ball. Jason Roy takes the first strike. A dot, then a single to fine leg. Jos Buttler fends off the third. Another dot, then a four to mid-wicket boundary. A dot to end the over. Five from the over. Target for England - 126 runs.
9:10 PM IST: Innings Break
Tymal Mills on with the final over. Mitchell Starc hits the first ball for a four, to long-off. A double to long-on. Angled delivery and one leg bye. Adam Zampa goes for some innovation, trying to play a reverse shot but misses and in the mix-up, he gets run out at the bowler's end. Josh Hazlewood arrives in the centre. Starc hits the next ball for a six, over fine leg. Next ball, he's caught behind. Starc out for 13 off 6 balls. 2/45 for Mills. 58 runs and five wickets in the last five overs. Australia all out for 125 in 120 balls.
9:04 PM IST: 3/17 For Jordan
Chris Jordan on with the penultimate over. Aaron Finch holes out at long-off, caught by a diving Jonny Bairstow. Finch goes for 44 off 49. Mitchell Starc the new man, at the non-striker's end. Jordan then cleans up Pat Cummins (12 off 3). A delectable yorker. And new man Adam Zampa takes a single off the hat-trick ball. Another single as Starc opens his account. Two dots. Two runs from the over. Jordan's figures: 3/17. AUS - 112/8 (19)
8:57 PM IST: Another Big Over
Tymal Mills on with his third over. Three singles, then Ashton Agar pulls the fourth but straight to Livingstone at deep mid-wicket. He goes for 20 off 20. 47-run stand broken. Pat Cummins arrives and hits the fifth ball for a six, over long-off, and another, this time over midwicket . 15 runs and a wicket from the over. AUS - 110/6 (18)
8:51 PM IST: 20 From Over
Chris Woakes returns for his final over. A single, then a wide. Ashton Agar hits the second ball for a six, over backward square leg boundary, beating Moeen Ali at the rope. First maximum of the innings. And another, this time over mid-wicket boundary. Two singles, then a four leg byes behind the wicket, between the legs of Agar. And England take review for LBW. Pitching outside, and not out. 20 from the over. From 2/7 in three overs, it becomes 2/23 for Woakes. AUS - 95/5 (17)
8:45 PM IST: Finch Carries On
Chris Jordan returns for his third over. A dot to Ashton Agar, and three singles. Aaron Finch hits the fifth for a four, to backward point. A single to end the over. Eight from the over. Aussie skipper on 40 off 44. AUS - 75/5 (16)
8:40 PM IST: 30 Balls Remaining
Tymal Mills returns for his second over. Aaron Finch hits the first two balls for fours. 10 from the over. AUS - 67/5 (15)
8:35 PM IST: 1/15 For Livingstone
Liam Livingstone with his final over. Four singles, and his figures: 1/15. Aaron Finch (25 off 36) holds the key for the Aussies. AUS - 57/5 (14)
8:31 PM IST: 1/19 For Adil
Adil Rashid completes his spell. Two singles from the last and his figures tonight - 1/19. 21 runs and one wicket in the last five overs. AUS - 53/5 (13)
8:27 PM IST: Five Down
Liam Livingstone continues with his third over. Two singles, then a dot. Matthew Wade launches the fourth but only manages to find a patrolling Jason Roy at long on. He goes for 18 off 18. Ashton Agar is the new man. Two singles and a wicket. AUS - 51/5
8:23 PM IST: A Boundary Relief
Tymal Mills gets his first over. Matthew Wade hits the fourth ball for a four to third man. A well-executed uppercut. Eight runs from the over. AUS - 49/4 (11)
8:16 PM IST: Drinks
Liam Livingstone continues. Another tidy over from the pacer. Four singles. No boundary in the last three overs. AUS - 41/4 (10)
8:13 PM IST: Adil Continues
Adil Rashid on with his third over. Five runs -- three singles and a double. 22 runs in the last 30 balls. AUS - 37/4 (9)
8:10 PM IST: Fourth Bowler
Bowling change. Liam Livingstone on and five from the over -- three singles and a double. AUS - 32/4 (8)
8:06 PM IST: Wade Joins Finch
New man Matthew Wade hits the fifth ball for a four to third man. Six runs from Adil Rashid's second over. 19 runs in the last 30 balls for three wickets. AUS - 27/4 (7)
8:03 PM IST: Four Down
Adil Rashid returns. He strikes first ball and Marcus Stoinis walks, for a four-ball duck. LBW. He fails to pick the googly. AUS 21/4 (6.1)
8:01 PM IST: Powerplay Over
Third on the trot for Chris Woakes. A wide and one leg bye from his third over. Marcus Stoinis is yet to open his account after facing three balls. Aaron Finch is in on 11 off 17. AUS - 21/3 (6)
7:56 PM IST: Finch Survives
Marcus Stoinis joins skipper Aaron Finch. Chris Jordan continues. Finch survives. A massive LBW shout off the first ball, and the umpire's call saves him. Clipping the wicket. Four runs from the over. AUS - 19/3 (5)
7:49 PM IST: Woakes Again
Chris Woakes continues, and another wicket for the 32-year-old pacer. He traps Glenn Maxwell in front with the fourth ball. Looks plumb, but Australia take the review. It's hitting leg. Maxwell goes for 6 off 9. AUS - 15/3 (3.5)
7:45 PM IST: England On Top
Glenn Maxwell joins Aaron Finch in the middle. Three singles and a wicket from Chris Jordan's first over. AUS - 11/2 (3)
7:41 PM IST: Smith Too
Bowling change. And Chris Jordan strikes with the first ball, courtesy a stunning, one-handed catch by Chris Woakes at mid-on. A miscue, and Steve Smith goes for one off five. AUS - 8/2 (2.1)
7:36 PM IST: Warner Goes
Chris Woakes shares the new ball. A single to mid-on, and the next ball, the big wicket of David Warner. Caught behind. Faintest of edges. Warner goes for 1 off 2. Steve Smith is the new man. AUS - 7/1 (1.2)
7:33 PM IST: First Over
A dot, then a single to mid-on. Three dots then Aaron Finch hits the fifth ball for a four. Lofted drive. A single to end the over. Six from the over.
7:29 PM IST: Players Ready
Anthems done. Moeen Ali Adil Rashid with the new ball. David Warner to take the strike. Aaron Finch is his opening partner.
7:12 PM IST: Playing XIs
England are unchanged. One for Australia. Ashton Agar in for Mitchell Marsh. Here are the playing XIs
England: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (wk), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan (c), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills.
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
7:07 PM IST: Proteas Fire
In Sharjah, South Africa has just pulled off a stunning win against Sri Lanka. Wanindu Hasaranga took a hat-trick but David Miller and Kagiso Rabada carried the Proteas home.
7:03 PM IST: Toss
England win the toss and opt to bowl first against Australia.
6:33 PM IST: Head-to-Head
This is their 20th meeting in T20Is. Australia lead the head-to-head record, 10-8. with three no results. In T20 World Cup, it's 1-1. In their last meeting, England beat Australia to win their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2010.
Squads
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
England: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
