Published: Aug 31, 2013, 08:28 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 31, 2013, 08:28 PM (IST)
Alex Hales hit 11 boundaries and two sixes in his knock of 94 © Getty Images
Aug 31, 2013
Opener Alex Hales scored a brilliant 94 to take England to 195 for five in their 20 overs against Australia in the second Twenty20 International at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
Australia skipper George Bailey won the toss and elected to field against England. However, the move backfired as the hosts got off to a flying start. Openers Hales and Michael Lumb took England to 61 for no loss at the end of the first six overs.
The innings got off to a slow start as Mitchell Johnson gave away just one run in the first over. Shane Watson, who was brought in to bowl the second over, had to bear the brunt of the merciless attack of the English batsmen as Lumb whip-cracked a slap through point off the very first delivery. Watson ended up giving 13 runs off the over.
By the end of the 10th over, England were sitting pretty at 94 with all their 10 wickets intact.
It was in the 12th over when the visitors got their first breakthrough. Lumb, trying to play a slog sweep off Fawad Ahmed, mishit the ball in the air as Matthew Wade took a good catch to gift him his first international wicket.
However, Hales continued the onslaught in company of Luke Wright who came to the crease at the fall of the first wicket. Wright struck three boundaries and a six in his quickfire 18-ball knock of 30.
Hales struck 11 boundaries and two sixes in his 61-ball knock.
For Australia, Ahmed was the only bowler who kept a check on England’s run-scoring as he gave away just 17 runs in his first three overs. He came back to bowl the last over and bagged two more wickets. He finished with figures of three for 25 in his four overs.
Brief scores:
England 195 for 5 in 20 overs (Alex Hales 94, Michael Lumb 43; Fawad Ahmed 3 for 25) vs Australia
