A win at last for Australia

Australia finally had something to celebrate after recording unlikely four-run win over England in second Twenty20.

MELBOURNE: Australia finally had something to celebrate after recording an unlikely four-run win over England in the second Twenty20 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

After Australia battled to 147 for seven, thanks to an unbeaten half-century by Aaron Finch who was playing his second match, England looked set to cruise to victory when they were 58 for the loss of no wickets after six overs, with opener Ian Bell on song.

But the tourists’ quest to extend their record unbeaten T20 streak to nine matches, having defeated Australia on the last ball of Wednesday’s game in Adelaide, came unstuck as their middle order failed to deliver.

Johson spearheads Aussie attack

As was the case in Australia’s lone win during the Ashes series, in the third Test at the WACA Ground, it was paceman Mitchell Johnson (three for 29) who turned the match on its head. Johnson claimed the vital wicket of Bell (39) when the right-handed batsman dragged a ball onto his stumps in the seventh over to end an opening stand of 60.

The left-hander then followed up by having Kevin Pietersen caught for one three balls later.

Johnson also removed the dangerous Eoin Morgan for 14, while Shane Watson backed up his brilliant effort in Wednesday’s match with a frugal two for 17 from four overs.

With 13 runs needed off the last three balls from Brett Lee, young England all-rounder Chris Woakes threatened to repeat his heroics on Wednesday when he lofted the paceman into the stands to leave seven needed from two.

But Lee got the job done as Australia snapped a run of five successive losses in Twenty20 internationals.

Finch named man of the match

Man of the match Finch hit an unbeaten 53 from 33 balls in a crucial performance with the bat for the home side. Australia got off to a quick start and were 57 for one after six overs, but lost four for 17 as Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy wreaked havoc, the two spinners recording identical figures of two for 19 from their four overs.

The two sides now meet in a seven-match One-Day International (ODI) series and Australian captain Cameron White was hopeful the home side finally had some momentum.“It’s going to give us some confidence hopefully,” said White.

England skipper Paul Collingwood said he thought his side was going to steal the win when Woakes hit his last-over six.“When Woakesy hit that six I thought we were going to pull something out of the bag,” said Collingwood.

ODIs to use UDRS

The seven-match ODI series between Australia and England will feature the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) for the first time.

Despite the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s continued opposition to the UDRS, it will be used for the duration of the World Cup. Until now, the UDRS has only been used in Test cricket, but it relies on the boards of the two countries agreeing.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th,  2011.