Aussie agony at England's unlikely heist

THERE was no crowd and no atmosphere but cricket’s oldest rivalry was renewed in stunning fashion as England mugged Australia to somehow win this opening T20 international by two runs.

- Chris Stocks

Aaron Finch’s tourists may have been playing their first competitive match in 175 days but there was no excuse for this choke from the world’s No1-ranked team in this format.

Chasing 163 to win, the Australians were cruising on 124 for one in the 15th over before a remarkable collapse of four for nine in 15 balls let Eoin Morgan’s side back in.

Finch and David Warner had already put on 98 for the first wicket before Australia’s captain fell to Jofra Archer in the 11th over.

That didn’t halt the momentum, though, as Australia closed in on victory, needing 39 from 34 balls with nine wickets in hand.

But the loss of Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell to Adil Rashid’s leg-spin in the 15th over started a chain of events that allowed England to come back into this contest from seemingly nowhere.

Momentum in Twenty20 cricket can shift at pace and so it proved here as Warner, who had made what appeared a match-winning 58, was bowled by Archer in the 16th over. Australia, now 129 for four, were still in control, needing 34 to win from 28 deliveries.