A narrow escape is the best way one can describe the result for England. Rain spoiled the Australian party and a chance to go one up in the T20Is, as England stuttered to 4/2 in reply to the tourists’ 145 in the twenty overs on a track that had enough bounce and swing in it to cause multiple problems for the batsmen.

That the track was all juiced up was evident from the fact that England won the toss and immediately inserted Australia in. Shane Watson struggled to retain his form from the test matches, but Dave Warner went on a rampage in the Power-Play. Three wickets did fall for 54, as the centurion from the Scotland game, Dave Hussey was dismissed for a duck as well.

However, that set the platform for Cameron White’s blitzkrieg which saw him get to a 36-ball 55 and justified his place in the side. For long, White has been in the side without having performed to his potential that had seen him crack the fastest century, but this inning of his would hold him in good stead for the rest of the series.

Australia got to 145 in the twenty overs, and then had the English on the mats by getting rid of debutant Joe Denly off his first ball, and then having the woefully out of form Ravi Bopara edge one to the slips which was almost at the thirty yard circle mark!

Rain prevented further play and the two teams go into the second T20 at Manchester with a 0-0 scoreline.

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