Series tied up 1-1 heading into the decider
Hosts England fought back in style in the second T20I as Liam Livingstone’s power-hitting propelled England to a crucial win to keep the hosts alive in the series. The teams head back to Manchester for the series decider with both teams having their tasks cut out and here’s our match preview and prediction for the third T20I between England and Australia.
England vs Australia 3rd T20I | Australia tour of England 2024 | 19:00 IST, 15 September 2024
With their captain Mitchell Marsh not playing, the young Jake Fraser-McGurk made it into the XI as Australia were setting a target once again. Stand-in captain Travis Head once again gave Australia a flying start and the hyped Fraser-McGurk lived up to all expectations with a crucial 50. The English spinners, Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone once again brought the hosts back into the game and it was thanks to Josh Inglis’ crucial 42 and Aaron Hardie’s final over flourish that pushed Australia to 193/6.
Sean Abbott’s double strike pegged back the hosts after a flying start from Salt and Will Jacks and at 79-3 in the ninth over, England looked in a spot of bother. Liam Livingstone with the young Jacob Bethell had other plans though as they launched into the Australian attack to see England take a 3-wicket win with one over to go.
The hosts, although they conceded more than they had in the opening T20I, showed more discipline with the ball and the young Brydon Carse showed promise when Reece Topley and Saqib Mahmood took some stick. England will hope that Jofra Archer is up and running and provides some stability to their pace unit. On the batting front, it was just Livingstone and Bethell who turned up while captain Phil Salt had given a flyer. England will be hoping that the likes of Will Jacks, Jordan Cox also come good with the bat.
For the visitors, it’s been the same story with the bat, a flyer up top and then the middle order struggles with a late flourish getting them to a respectable score. Fraser-McGurk’s half-century will definitely put a good worry for the selectors, who now will have to decide who to replace if Mitchell Marsh is fit for the final T20I. Matthew Short would be first name to come up but Short showcased his capabilities with the ball as well in the second T20I, picking up five wickets in a losing cause. While the sample size may be just two games, Marcus Stoinis, one of Australia’s top all-rounders, has had a poor series so far with the ball and bat and Australia will be expecting him to step up in the final game as will they from their big-hitting middle order batter Tim David.
Australia’s bowling looked a bit under-par with Josh Hazelwood being rested and Xavier Bartlett missing out as well due to a niggle. The visitors will hope that both are back in the XI for Sunday’s game.
Should Australia have their main XI back for the final T20I, the visitors will be the favourites to take the series home. Taking place in Manchester, we should be expecting the spinners do to well once again.
Fantasy XI
Phil Salt, Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Will Jacks, Mitchell Marsh, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
Venue: Manchester
Winners Prediction: Australia
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