Fans came out in numbers at Kensington Oval
Defending champions England are on the brink of making an early exit from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup after losing to their archrivals Australia by 36 runs at Kensington Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Chasing a total of 202 to win their first match in the tournament, England were restricted to 166 for six, fast bowler Pat Cummins returning to the team bowled four masterful overs and captured two wickets for 26 runs.
While leg-spinner and Player of the Match Adam Zampa spun his way to two wickets for 26 runs.
Openers Jos Buttler (42 runs from 28 balls) and Phil Salt (37 off 27 balls) posted 73 runs for the first wicket, but are Salt’s dismissal in the eight over, and Buttler’s departure in the tenth, England’s batsmen buckled under the pressure applied by the Australian bowlers.
Only Moeen Ali who blasted 25 runs with three sixes off 15 balls and Harry Brook with 20 not out resisted the Australian bowlers; the defeat leaves England with one point after last Tuesday’s washout against Scotland.
Earlier Australia scored 201 after England won the toss and decided to field, the Australian batsmen when on the rampage against England’s bowlers slamming 13 sixes in the innings. Veteran opener David Warner and Travis Head give Australia a flying start with a first wicket partnership of 70 in five overs.
After Warner was bowled by Ali for 39 off 16 balls, and Head was dismissed for 34 from 18 balls; Australia’s batsmen continued to hammer the bowlers, captain Mitch Marsh made 35 from 25 balls, Glen Maxwell got 28, and Matthew Wade was 17 not out. Fast bowler Jofra Archer took one wicket for 28 runs, and medium pacer captured two wickets for 44 runs.
Over 11,000 spectators watched the match, at the end of the game several of them (including English and Australian tourists) walked over to a street party on Rihanna Drive.
