- author, Matthew Henry
- role, BBC sports reporter in Barbados
Australia 201-7 (20 overs): Warner 39 (16), Marsh 35 (25); Jordan 2-44
England 165-6 (20 overs): Buttler 42 (28); Cummins 2-28
England’s T20 World Cup defence is already in jeopardy after their heavy 36-run defeat to Australia in Barbados.
After a strong start, the old rivals stretched their lead to 201 for 7, but England’s batting order then fell far behind in their attempts to catch up.
Jos Buttler and Phil Salt made 73-0 but after Salt fell in the eighth over, England fell further and further from the required rate as wickets collapsed.
They finished with a score of 165 for 6, with Butler’s top score being 42.
But in reality, the match was won in the first five overs.
Travis Head and David Warner combined for 70 runs in 30 balls to thwart England’s bowling line-up.
Seven of Australia’s 13 sixes came in the openers’ innings, laying the foundations for their highest score of the World Cup so far.
England will likely need to win their final two matches against Oman and Namibia to have any chance of avoiding the humiliation of missing out on a Super Eight place, but even if they do that they may only have to rely on pure run-rate to beat Scotland.
England struggles again
Following Tuesday’s defeat to Scotland, it was meant to be a day of revitalisation for England in the tournament after a tough defence of last year’s 50-over world title.
Instead, they are left with familiar questions to answer as their oldest enemies celebrate in the Caribbean sun.
Australia’s start was even more remarkable given that Moeen Ali conceded just three runs in the first over.
Part-time spinner Will Jacks bowled his second innings despite having only bowled two overs in this format for England previously, and Head slogged his first two balls for six. England’s over was a gamble that cost them 22 runs, and from there it was chaos as Australia went for the short boundaries.
Mark Wood’s first two balls were hit by Warner for sixes as the Australian opener reached his fifty in 22 balls – three of their sixes were hit on the ground.
Warner’s attack, likely for the final time against England, was thwarted by a low Moeen delivery while Head was run out by a slower delivery from Jofra Archer, the only one of England’s front-line bowlers to avoid serious damage.
Mitchell Marsh contributed 35, Glenn Maxwell 28 and Marcus Stoinis 30 for England, but the damage was already done.
Scotland face Oman in Antigua on Sunday and a win for them would put them under even more pressure as a win against Australia could deal them a devastating blow.
England’s pursuit ended in failure
In contrast to England, Australia were better with the ball, remaining unfazed when England got off to a steady start and taking advantage when the pitch slowed down.
Salt and Buttler managed just one six from the first five overs, a stark contrast to how things had gone up until then, and when the intimidating Adam Zampa bowled Salt out for 37 off the first ball, they sensed their opportunity.
Buttler reverse-swept the leg-spinner to backward point and the pressure mounted as he took just 10 in his second over before Jacks picked it over long-off for 10 in the next. Jonny Bairstow struggled to make 13 off seven balls.
When Moeen hit Maxwell for three sixes in the 14th over to take the 20-run deficit, there was a brief spark of confidence among the large English contingent in the stands.
He cut it to deep extra cover off Pat Cummins, who had figures of 2-28, with a slow-ball combination leading the Australian seamers, and England’s race was over.
They now have five days before they begin their belated challenge against Oman on Thursday 13 June.
“Australia excelled in all three areas” – they said
England captain Jos Buttler on BBC Test Match Special: “I think we lost to Australia today. They played really well on the power play and put us under a lot of pressure straight away.”
“We know where we are, we know exactly how we need to handle it, we can look back at this game, move on and make a plan for the next game.”
Australia captain Mitch Marsh: “I’m very happy with the effort. I thought our game was great overall. It was a good day.”
“The opening partnership decided the match. It’s all based on trust in each other. The players created a great atmosphere.”
“We have an experienced group and they helped me learn things.”
England all-rounder Moeen Ali told BBC TMS. “I felt Australia were better than us in all three aspects on the day. They were smarter with the ball than us and used the conditions really well.”
“I’ve got to be a little more accurate with my pitches. When I throw the ball, I’ve got to throw it quickly and try to make something happen, not hope something happens. I’ve got to defend when I need to defend and attack when I need to attack.”