In a setback for the hosts ahead of their defence of the T20 World Cup, Dawid Malan scored 82 and Sam Curran claimed three wickets to help England defeat Australia by eight runs and win the series.
In a 49-ball innings, Malan hammered seven boundaries and four sixes. He also had a 92-run fifth-wicket stand with Moeen Ali, which helped England, who had been put in to bat, go from a precarious 54/4 in the ninth over to a total of 178/7. While facing a full-strength bowling assault in Canberra, England had also won the series opener in Perth last Sunday by eight runs. Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc returned after missing the game in Perth but between them, conceded 81 runs for one wicket — Starc bowling Curran (8) in the penultimate over.
Final score for the home team was 170/6. Mitch Marsh, who has anchored the top order with 45 from 29 balls, lost Australia’s openers Aaron Finch (13) and David Warner (12), leaving the team in peril at 22/2.
With his lineup putting down four chances and England holding every catch, Australia captain Finch claimed that their fielding on Wednesday was the difference-maker.
With three balls left in the innings, medium pacer Stoinis bowled for Australia’s best bowling statistics of 3/34, taking out Malan.