England are chasing a target of 194 runs for victory in the second T20I against Australia at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
Young Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk, batting at first drop for the first time in his international career, top-scored with 50 as the tourists scored 6-193 in the Welsh capital.
The Victorian missed out on selection for the series opener at Southampton after a dip in form in the shortest format of the competition, but an illness setback for captain Mitchell Marsh opened the door for his return to the starting line-up.
MATCH CENTER: England vs Australia, second T20 scorecard
“I’ve done No. 3 work in the Big Bash and the last IPL, so it was nothing out of the ordinary,” Fraser-McGurk said during the innings break.
“I’m quite happy that I’m above 20 for the first time in a while.
“Going to Scotland was quite tough. I’ve never played in such cold conditions. It felt quite strange, I’ve never really experienced that before. I just wasn’t really confident in my own playing.
“I got my chance (today) and I’m glad I took it.”
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Travis Head led the side in Marsh’s absence, becoming the 13th cricketer to captain Australia in the men’s T20Is.
Main and opening partner Matt Short gave Australia another blistering start after England captain Phil Salt won the toss and elected to bowl first in Cardiff, creating a fifty-run partnership in the fourth over.
Playing his first T20I in over twelve months, England quick Brydon Carse broke the tie in the fifth over when Head delivered a full toss straight to Adil Rashid at point for 31.
The pace remained steady after Head’s departure, with Short failing to find the boundary rope for 14 consecutive deliveries before leg-spinner Rashid deceived the Victorian in the ninth with a mis-un and bowled for 28.
Fraser-McGurk brought up his maiden T20I fifty in 29 deliveries, becoming the youngest Australian to reach the minor milestone since David Warner in 2009. However, the 22-year-old departed during the same period after missing out on a miscue against tweaker Liam Livingstone towards long on, with all-rounder Marcus Stoinis falling in almost identical fashion a few minutes later.
Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis picked up the pace after Stoinis’ departure, producing an assortment of elegant sweeps and lap shots before slotting a slower ball from left-armed Seamer Sam Curran towards deep square leg for 42.
In the penultimate over, Jamie Overton dropped a regular outfield catch at deep mid-wicket, giving West Australian all-rounder Cameron Green an extra life on 2. To rub salt in the wounds, Green hit the next delivery into the stands for six, with a patron in the front row showing Overton how it’s done.
Aaron Hardie ended the innings with a flourish, scoring 20 runs from the final over which was surpassed by Curran as Australia posted the second highest team total in T20Is at Sophia Gardens. Carse was the favorite of the English bowlers with 2-26 from four overs, including the crucial dismissal of pinch-hitter Tim David.
England XI
Phil Salt (c) (wk), Will Jacks, Jordan Cox, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Reece Topley
Australia XI
Matt Short, Travis Head (c), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa
