Ruthless Australia crush England in T20 World Cup

BRIDGETOWN:

Josh Buttler said England need to “dust themselves off” after a devastating 36-run defeat by ruthless Australia in Barbados on Saturday left their T20 World Cup defense hanging in the balance.

Australia stormed out of the blocks at Kensington Oval, posting 201-7 in their 20 overs, and England’s corners collapsed after a bright start as they struggled to 165-6.

Buttler’s men, who fell short when defending their 50-over title in India last year, are still winless after their opening game against Scotland was marred by rain.

However, Australia top Group B after two wins as they remain on course to become the first country to hold all three world cricket titles simultaneously — Test, one-day and T20.

Opener David Warner top-scored for the winners with 39, while spinner Adam Zaba was man of the match after taking 2-28, including the crucial wicket of Buttler for 42.

“They came out with a lot of intent and played really well and put us under a lot of pressure straight away,” the England captain said.

“It was difficult to drag it back from there. They bowled really well in that middle over, got wickets at regular times and defended really well.”

Buttler said England needed to play with a lot of confidence in their remaining games against Oman and Namibia.

“It’s all prescribed what we have to do, so we have to dust ourselves off and go again,” he added.

Buttler won the toss in Bridgetown but watched in horror as Australia’s champions Warner and Travis Head savaged his bowlers.

Spinner Will Jacks crashed for 22 runs in his first over and pacer Mark Wood also conceded 22 runs in his first over as Australia raced to 55-0 from four overs, enjoying a short boundary on one side of the ground.

Moeen Ali made the breakthrough England desperately needed, bowling Warner for 39, and paceman Jofra Archer leveled the stumps of Head (34), leaving Australia 74-2.

But captain Mitchell Marsh (35) and Glenn Maxwell (28) kept the score steady and Marcus Stoinis’ 30-ball ensured Australia became the first team to reach the 200 mark during the tournament.

Buttler and Phil Salt ensured England got off to a fast start in their reply, reaching 73-0 at the end of the seventh over.

But Zampa bowled Salt for 37 with his first ball and took Buttler’s wicket award in his next over for 42.

Jacks was caught by Mitchell Starc in the deep off the bowling of Stoinis as Australia turned the screw, conceding just 11 runs in three overs.

Moeen took three sixes off a Maxwell as England flickered briefly but Jonny Bairstow went cheap and Moeen was lost for 25.

The innings dropped and the impressive Zampa finished with impressive bowling figures, with Pat Cummins taking 2-23.

Marsh said his side’s all-round play was “outstanding”, pointing to early fireworks from Warner and Head as key.

“That was the difference in the game, the way we started, all based on our trust in each other,” he said. “The boys set the tone beautifully.”

The first two teams of the group will qualify for the Super 8 phase of the competition.