In the second T20I of the Australia tour of England 2024, held at Sophia Gardens, England emerged victorious against Australia by 3 wickets, levelling the series at 1-1.
Jake Fraser-McGurk smashes his maiden fifty for Australia
After winning the toss, England opted to bowl first. Australia posted a total of 193 runs for 6 wickets in their 20 overs. Jake Fraser-McGurk was the standout performer with the bat, scoring 50 runs off 31 balls, supported by Josh Inglis who contributed 42 runs off 26 balls. Travis Head also made a quick 31 runs off just 14 balls, while Matthew Short added a useful 28 runs off 24 balls.
For England, Brydon Carse was impressive, taking 2 wickets for 26 runs in his 4 overs, while Liam Livingstone also claimed 2 wickets for just 16 runs. Adil Rashid and Sam Curran each chipped in with a wicket, helping to restrict Australia to a chaseable total.
Liam Livingstone blitz propels England to victory
Chasing 194 runs, England reached their target with 194 runs for 7 wickets in 19 overs. Livingstone was the star of the innings, scoring a blistering 87 runs off 47 balls, which included 6 fours and 5 sixes. Jacob Bethell also played a crucial role, contributing 44 runs off 24 balls, while stand-in-captain Philip Salt added 39 runs off 23 balls.
Despite a few early wickets, Livingstone’s explosive knock guided England to victory. Matthew Short was the standout bowler for Australia, claiming an impressive 5 wickets for 22 runs, but his efforts were not enough to secure a win for his team.
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Player of the Match
England’s victory by 3 wickets was a significant turnaround after their loss in the first match of the series.
England levels the T20I series through Liam Livingstone’s masterclass
Scorecard: https://t.co/4LOC5d3J8v#ENGvAUS #cricket #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/x7JL2NfoEb
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) September 14, 2024
Liam Livingstone was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance with the bat.
The series now heads into the third match, scheduled for September 15 at Old Trafford, where both teams will look to secure a decisive win.